Receptive properties of low-frequency sound with differentiated contributions from the cochlea, vestibular organs, semicircular canal, and somatosensory

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17265
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Tagusari Junta 北海道大学, 工学研究院, 助教 (40791497)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 低周波音 / 騒音 / 振動感 / 音響心理実験 / 調整法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the receptive characteristics of infrasound. In light of the fact that dizziness has been reported as a specific effect of infrasound, we focused on the "vibration sensation" and attempted to evaluate it. In many subjects, the isosensory curve for the intensity of the vibration sensation was V-shaped with a minimum around 40 Hz, suggesting that the isovibration sensation curve would be V-shaped. However, the results obtained differed depending on the experimental conditions, highlighting issues related to the evaluation of "vibration sensation" based on psychoacoustic methods. In the future, the use of physiological and objective methods is desirable, and a search for more sensitive methods is required.

Free Research Field

騒音

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

低周波成分が顕著に含まれる騒音によって，睡眠障害・頭痛・めまい・吐き気等の健康影響が生じることが報告されているが，そのメカニズムに関して明らかにはなっていない。本研究では，低周波音を曝露した際の「振動感」に注目し，そのメカニズムへの示唆を得ることを目的とした実験を行った。「振動感」は約40Hzにおいて最も高い反応性を示したものの，実験条件によって異なる結果が得られることがあり，その信頼性には課題があることもまた示された。低い曝露レベルでも評価可能な生理学的手法の探索が求められ，また，低周波音の受容メカニズムの解明に向けてはさらなる研究が求められる。