Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Exposure to noise has a negative influence on human health, including an increased occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. Susceptibility to the harmful effects of noise can be further moderated by a personal trait called noise sensitivity (NS). It is not understood what makes some individuals more sensitive to noise than others. So far, the research on this topic has been largely limited to perceptual and population studies. The aim of this thesis was to broaden the understanding of NS by addressing its biological mechanisms. Thus, this thesis investigated the neuroanatomical correlates of NS and its effects on auditory processing. The thesis consists of three studies. The first study examines whether NS can be developed as the result of musical training (Study I). The other two studies investigate whether NS is reflected in the functioning of the central auditory system (Study II) and whether it is related to the morphology of cortical and subcortical brain structures (Study III). The research was conducted using questionnaires, combined magneto- and electroencephalography (MEG/EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The findings of this thesis suggest that NS moderates how and why individuals listen to music. However, NS is not associated with musical training and thus does not seem to relate to fine perceptual skills (Study I). An investigation of the central auditory processing in Study II, however, revealed compromised sound feature encoding and automatic discrimination skills in noise-sensitive individuals. Study III showed that NS is also associated with the structural organization of the brain. Noise-sensitive individuals were found to have enlarged volumes of the auditory cortical areas and hippocampus as well as thicker right anterior insular cortex. These results suggest that NS is related to the structures involved with auditory perceptual, emotional, and interoceptive processing. Overall, this thesis proposes that NS is not merely an attitudinal phenomenon but instead has underlying neuronal mechanisms.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Marina Kliuchko
Language: English
Topic: Noise Effects and Management
Subfield: Acoustics and Ultrasonics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Helsingin Yliopisto
OpenAlex ID: W2750868001