EFFECT OF UNDESIRABLE SOUND (NOISE) ON CEREBRAL CIRCULATION

Abstract

The effect of undesirable sound (random noise of ca 100 phon) on the cerebral circulation was investigated by means of the ultrasonic Doppler apparatus in 10 normal young and elderly males. Increase of the blood flow was conspicuously observed in all the subjects after the onset of the noise. The increasing rate of the blood flow in the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery was not coincident. The dissociation of the blood flow change in the two arteries is discussed. Headache and discomfort due to the noise were observed in all the subjects. Moreover, disturbance of sleep was observed in two cases. The above facts suggest that severe and repeated noise induces abnormality of cerebral circulation and various kinds of psychosomatic diseases.