Analysing the effect of non-acoustical parameters on physiological response due to traffic noise exposure

Traffic noise, as an environmental stressor, impacts both auditory and non-auditory human health through a combination of acoustical and non-acoustical parameters. This study investigates the effects of sex, noise sensitivity, and cross-cultural differences on physiological stress responses to traffic noise exposure. A psychophysiological listening experiment was conducted with 60 participants from the United Kingdom and India to analyze the variation in physiological responses to the noise stimuli. The findings reveal significant gender differences in psychophysiological responses, with females exhibiting higher physiological arousal and potentially experiencing greater stress levels at moderate loudness levels compared to males. Moreover, individuals with high noise sensitivity displayed heightened stress levels and physiological arousal. Additionally, British participants exhibited higher physiological arousal, as indicated by increased skin conductance response parameters, compared to the Indian group. This suggests that exposure to Indian traffic noise, characterized by louder sounds and increased honking, leads to heightened stress levels among British participants. In conclusion, these findings contribute to our understanding of the relationship between traffic noise and physiological outcomes, shedding light on the influence of non-acoustical parameters. It also underscore the potential health implications of chronic noise exposure on human health.