Background sound pressure fluctuations (5 dB) from overhead ventilation systems increase subjective fatigue of university students during three-hour lectures.

Persinger M A, Tiller S G, Koren S A
academic building, occupant reaction
Year:
1999
Bibliographic info:
Perceptual and Motor Skills, No 88, 1999, pp 451-456, 1 fig, refs.

An experiment was performed in a lecture hall on students, to assess the effect of ventilation noise on concentration and fatigue. The students were tested with the ventilation fans both on and off. As a group the students reported more fatigue during lectures when the fans were operating. States that this environmental effect explains about 39% of the variance in fatigue ratings and may be sufficient to affect adversely the attention of students within these settings.

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