Nonauditory Effects of Noise Exposure to the Human Body

Abstract: The noise generated by life support systems is one of the factors that continuously affects astronauts during their stay on the International Space Station. Long-term monitoring of the astronaut’s auditory system demonstrates the possibility of developing both temporary and permanent (irreversible) shifts in hearing thresholds. In addition, it has been shown that noise exposure can adversely affect the quality of the operator’s activity and efficient performance. However, to date, the topic of psychoacoustic effects caused by noise exposure has not been studied enough. An experimental evaluation of the “nonauditory” effects of “white” noise exposure with an 85 dB intensity and 2 h duration in healthy volunteers with normal hearing was carried out. The results of the study indicate a significant decrease in the concentration of attention, the amount of working memory, as well as the speed of cognitive processes associated with the recognition and analysis of incoming information, after exposure to noise. In addition, a significant change in the parameters of the volunteers bioelectrical brain activity was noted: an increase in the power of α- and β-rhythms and a decrease in the power of θ-rhythms of an EEG under the influence of noise. Taking these data into account, the authors suggest a decrease in the quality of the operator’s activity of the volunteers in noise exposure conditions. © 2023, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.