Effects of noise on a simple visual attentional task.
15 male and 15 female subjects scanned an array of lights during one of three types of white-noise conditions (continuous, 1-Hz pulse rate, and 10-Hz pulse rate) at 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 dB. Detection of light stimuli increased under the lower intensities and decreased under the higher intensities in the continuous and the 1-Hz pulse-rate conditions, but decreased as intensity increased in 10-Hz pulse-rate noise. Detection of peripheral stimuli was greatest during continuous noise and lowest during 10-Hz pulse-rate noise. These data are interpreted in terms of changes in attentional focus which result from altered levels of arousal.
Britton
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Department of Psychology, Regis College, Denver, Colorado 80221.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise; D014796:Visual Perception