Startle, annoyance and psychophysiological responses to repeated sound bursts

摘要

This study was designed to investigate the relationships both between startle and annoyance ratings and between these ratings and heart rate, skin conductance, and electromyographic responses. The experimental sounds had three different frequency contents and two rise times. In a laboratory experiment, 48 subjects were exposed to three blocks of nine noise bursts, each consisting of 5-second plateau at a sound pressure level of 80 dBA. Psycho-acoustical ratings were collected for startle, fright, conspicuousness and annoyance, and the psychophysiological indicators were measured. The principal component analysis of the psycho-acoustical measures established two components associated with startle and annoyance. Startle and annoyance ratings were found to be associated with psychophysiological indicators. A short onset-latency increase in heart rate was associated with startle rating, and annoyance was indicated by a simultaneous increase in electromyography. It is concluded that the annoyance resulting from a sound stimulus is not necessarily associated with the evoked startle responses. [References: 11]