Infrasound Exposure Increases Stress Hormones and Irritability in Controlled Study
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A new study finds that exposure to low-frequency infrasound, which is inaudible to humans, measurably increases stress hormones and feelings of irritability. Participants in a controlled experiment could not reliably detect the infrasound, but their bodies and moods were affected. The research suggests that environmental infrasound from sources like traffic and industry may have subtle physiological impacts.
Facts First
- Infrasound exposure increased salivary cortisol levels in participants compared to those not exposed.
- Participants reported feeling more irritable and less engaged when exposed to the inaudible 18 Hz sound.
- Those exposed were more likely to perceive music as sad, even though they could not reliably detect the infrasound itself.
- The study involved 36 participants in a controlled listening experiment with hidden subwoofers.
- The biological mechanism for registering infrasound remains unknown, but the physiological effect was confirmed through additional analyses.
What Happened
Researchers conducted a controlled experiment with 36 participants to study the effects of infrasound. Participants sat alone listening to music, with hidden subwoofers generating 18 Hz infrasound for half of them. Those exposed showed higher levels of salivary cortisol, reported feeling more irritable and less engaged, and were more likely to perceive the music as sad. Participants could not reliably identify whether the infrasound was present.
Why this Matters to You
Infrasound is produced by common environmental sources like traffic and industrial equipment, meaning you may be exposed to it in daily life without knowing. This research suggests such exposure could subtly elevate your stress hormone levels and affect your mood, potentially making you feel more irritable or perceive your surroundings more negatively. Since you cannot hear it, you might not connect these feelings to an environmental cause.
What's Next
The exact biological mechanism by which the body registers infrasound remains unknown and is a key question for future research. The researchers, noting the relatively small group size, performed additional analyses to confirm their findings were capable of detecting the observed effects. Further studies may help clarify how prevalent infrasound exposure is in different environments and what long-term impacts it might have.