Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-72/19
Title and Subtitle: Residual performance effects of simulated sonic booms introduced during sleep
Report Date: May 1972
Authors: Chiles WD, West G
Abstract: Twenty-four male subjects were tested on a complex performance device involving monitoring, mental arithmetic, and pattern discrimination. Three age-groups were used: 20 to 26, 40 to 45, and 60 to 72. Subjects were tested for 30 minutes each morning and each evening for a 21-day period. On the sixth through the 17th nights, subjects were exposed to eight simulated sonic booms with an 'outdoors' overpressure level of 1.0 psf presented at 1-hour intervals during sleep.
The results provided no evidence that exposure to simulated sonic booms during sleep produced measurable consequences with respect to complex performance. A significant age effect was found for five of the ten measures. Significant differences (apparently a learning effect) were found in performance across the three phases (pre-boom, boom, and post-boom). There was also a significant interaction between age and phase for five of the measures.
Key Words: Complex Performance, Sonic Booms, Age, Diurnal Variations
No. of Pages: 8
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-72/19
Title and Subtitle: Residual performance effects of simulated sonic booms introduced during sleep
Report Date: May 1972
Authors: Chiles WD, West G
Abstract: Twenty-four male subjects were tested on a complex performance device involving monitoring, mental arithmetic, and pattern discrimination. Three age-groups were used: 20 to 26, 40 to 45, and 60 to 72. Subjects were tested for 30 minutes each morning and each evening for a 21-day period. On the sixth through the 17th nights, subjects were exposed to eight simulated sonic booms with an 'outdoors' overpressure level of 1.0 psf presented at 1-hour intervals during sleep.
The results provided no evidence that exposure to simulated sonic booms during sleep produced measurable consequences with respect to complex performance. A significant age effect was found for five of the ten measures. Significant differences (apparently a learning effect) were found in performance across the three phases (pre-boom, boom, and post-boom). There was also a significant interaction between age and phase for five of the measures.
Key Words: Complex Performance, Sonic Booms, Age, Diurnal Variations
No. of Pages: 8
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012