Abstract

Noise is an unwanted sound depending upon time and place. In fact, noise is both-a psychological and a physical construct. While measuring the impact of noise, amplitude of the sound, intensity, temperature and humidity of the environment must be taken in consideration, at the same time the personality traits, mental status of the perceiver must not be ignored. Sensitivity to noise is a prime factor while assessing impact of noise on human being. Considering this fact in mind, it was decided to study impact of high intensity of continuous traffic noise on mental performance. For this, 100 university students were selected randomly. Subjects were divided into two groups by applying Noise Sensitivity Scale developed by Weinstein and adopted in Hindi by Bhatia, Malhotra and Mohar. On these two groups, the experiment was done in two conditions- ‘with noise condition’ and ‘without noise condition’. In without noise condition, subjects were given cancellation sheets on which they have to cross the desired alphabets written on the top of these sheets. In with noise condition, they were exposed to 90dB continuous traffic noise and have to cross the desired alphabets on cancellation sheets. Error committed in crossing the alphabets was indicator of quantity of mental performance, while time taken was indicator of quality of mental performance. On such parameter, the data were procured in both conditions and analyzed with the help of M,SD and t-ratio. It was found that there was significant difference in errors in both conditions. It means high intensity of continuous traffic noise decreases mental performance. Furthermore, it was found that there was significant difference in time taken in both conditions. It means high intensity of continuous traffic noise deteriorates quality of performance. Then the performance of noise sensitive and non-noise sensitivity groups were compared and found that sensitivity to noise decreases the quantity and quality of mental performance.