This PowerPoint presentation was delivered during the below-titled international panel as a part of the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference and World Telecommunication Information Society Day (May 17) on May 7, 2024: “How Can We Prevent Harmful Consequences from ICTs, and Move Towards a Sustainable Future?”

Perception and Health Through the Lens of Psychoacoustics – AN OVERVIEW OF NEGATIVE IMPACT IN ACOUSTICAL ENVIRONMENTS

by Robert HARARI – Industry Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ, USA

[LMGlobal.Org] As preface to this essay, an accepted definition of psychoacoustics is that it represents the study of human auditory perception, ranging in the biological design of the ear to the psychological interpretation of the aural information.  Psychoacoustics seeks to reconcile acoustical stimuli and all the scientific, objective and physical properties that surround them, with the physiological and psychological responses evoked by them.  As the principle human point of contact of sound wave propagation, the ear is a truly remarkable sensor, or input modality. At the threshold of perceived sound, the eardrum is displaced by a distance that is approximately 1/100^th the diameter of a hydrogen atom.  This level of sensitivity is remarkable unto itself.  With the ear as microphone, aural perception is deciphered, and that perception is directly impacted by the acoustical environment in which it is perceived.  In every environment on the planet, except an anechoic chamber, the physical space in which the sound is transmitted affects the coloration of the sound wave.  This is the foundation of acoustical science.   Sounds we hear are deciphered by the brain by referencing experiential knowledge accumulated through one’s lifetime.  Where general sounds can be interpreted as an intuitive process, speech is a codified form of communication that is understood through a cognitive process and should be less open to auditory interpretation.  

PowerPoint | PROGRAM & BIOS of the SPEAKERS | DESCRIPTION & CONCEPT

Delivery of content can be complex or simple, but when the environment in which it is delivered is compromised, comprehension may become difficult.  When using speech as the conveyance, the acoustical environment is a critical component that can enhance or corrupt the delivery, and message.  For example, the potential for confusion can manifest in misdiagnosis in hospital environments, hindered comprehension in classroom environments, and interpretation based on conscious or unconscious bias that may not reflect the truth of the original expression.  Thus, there is a multi-tiered consideration in this presentation that considers human biology, properties of physics, intellectual analysis and ultimately, the modes of transmission.

Through observational research studies shared herein, it is evidenced that hostile acoustical environments do interfere with comprehension and potentially with cognition.  Thus, information conveyed and potentially misunderstood becomes a new truth to the next person the information is shared with.  This is the old ‘telephone game”, where one person starts a message by whispering in the ear of the next person in the circle, and so on.  As there may be acoustical interference, and potential embellishment of the storyline, the message evolves into something new.  But for those individuals downstream in the conversation, they do not realize the alteration of the original thought or data, they now believe a new truth and continue to spread that message.  If there is a hospital patient who is being interviewed for cognitive assessment using the CAM protocol, and there is a chaotic sound – a door slam or other loud sounds that masks the question to the patient, and the patient misunderstand that question in their response, the nurse documents that answer without being aware that the patient misunderstood, now the response is inaccurate, raising potential for a misdiagnosis.  With checks and verification, it is possible to catch this error.  

Similarly, to extend this discussion to classroom acoustics, if it is difficult for a student to clearly hear a teacher because room tone is excessively reverberant, or that the ventilation system noise exceeds accepted norms masking a teacher’s voice, this may interfere with comprehension, impeding cognitive development.  These are examples of the analog model of informational transmission.

Now with instantaneous global communication, it is almost impossible to verify information and transmit accuracy to the same recipients of the false information.  As discussed in many of the presentations of this conference, technological advances have permitted the dissemination of disinformation and content negatively affecting susceptible populations whether intentionally or unintentionally.  But it is important to also consider the transmission systems that fuel ICT’s.

Returning to the science of psychoacoustics, what I have additionally found in my research is that the different levels of aural input can change the chemical balances in the body.  For example, very high frequencies in the 16kHz-20kHz range can induce stress, increased heart rate, generate sweating and tightness of scalp.  The research of these influences is still in the nascent stages. Being acutely aware of sound and its impact, I would like to share a personal anecdote.  Within the last five years, I have developed Tinnitus.  This is a condition that can be triggered externally but is neurologically generated internally.  There are documented cases of deaf individuals experiencing tinnitus.  Personally, it just started one sunny afternoon and had never left me since, until a recent journey.   While travelling in Finland, being north of the arctic circle for four days I realized that the ringing in my ears had subsided.  After about 5 years, it was remarkable to have silence in my head.  Upon returning to Helsinki for the remainder of the trip, the ringing returned.  It became unbearable one evening while having a dinner in a restaurant. Using a real time frequency analyzer, a very high frequency, ~18,000 Hz, was detected and identified.  Psychoacoustically, this frequency range is known to trigger tension and stress.  Since then, the tinnitus persists.  So anecdotal evidence shows that while being in an environment free of telecommunications towers, with minimal WIFI hubs, the tinnitus subsided.  When returning to an urban environment, so too did the tinnitus return.

When thoroughly considering the effects of sound in acoustical environments, and additionally in neurologically stimulated conditions such as tinnitus, there is a correlation to the masking of certain frequencies that could impair accurate interpretation and understanding of speech.  The exact principal frequency (there are harmonic adjacent tones) of my tinnitus is 7,923 Hz.  As noted in the PowerPoint presentation, this frequency falls within the range of negative impact in tonal masking.  Regardless if this “sound” is generated internally or externally, this tonal masking exists nonetheless and can be considered to induce a potential negative impact on speech intelligibility.  As issues of hearing deficiency, tonal masking, creating difficult listening situations that is detrimentally impacted by tinnitus and aging, speech intelligibility remains a critical issue in general wellness.  

What is unknown is how high frequency transmission bands of telecommunications, 5G, substantial quantities of WIFI networks and other wireless based signals can affect neural stimuli, potentially triggering tinnitus.  I encourage you to also read the speech presented by Independent Researcher Julie Mardin for this conference.  She does an excellent job of outlining the potential negative effects of wireless transmission systems versus the use of fiber optic cable.  

Although this short essay did not directly address the content of transmissions, recognizing the potential harmful impact of ICT’s as a clear and present danger to society and our youth is critical.  Researching and recognizing the potential biological impact of these relative new technologies that carry this content is even more critical to the health and well-being of humanity in a technologically advancing world. 

Thank you for the opportunity to participate with such a distinguished panel in such an important discussion that already has identified global implications.  

References

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Macquarie University, Sidney Australia – Dept. of Linguistics
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21. H. J. M. Steeneken and T. Houtgast. “A physical method for measuring speech-transmission quality. Institute or Perception TNO”, Soesterberg,Th e Netherlands. PACS numbers: 43.70. Lw, 43.70.Ep
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BACKGROUND: 
The virtual panel titled “How Can We Prevent Harmful Consequences from ICTs, and Move Towards a Sustainable Future?” was organized and presented by The Light Millennium Global through diverse multi-disciplined speakers from academia, NGOs/CSOs, experts, activists, private sector, and youth representatives on May 7, 2024. 
The panel has brought up to the surface both existing and potential harms of ICTs, along with recommendations for solutions. 
The concept was initially developed and proposed in connection with the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference‘s Theme #3, “Science, Technology and Innovation and Digital Cooperation“ in particular, with its “Technology and Innovation and Digital Cooperation” aspects, along with the theme #4, “Youth and Future Generations” since the youth populations are both the core users, and leaders of tomorrow, and being the leaders of today; shaping most ICT companies and related innovative technologies. In this context, the panel presented five student/youth under the “Youth Section.”
Via the above speech accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation by Prof. Robert Harari, along with the Outcome of the session, including all received and publicly made available speeches and presentations, LMGlobal.Org proudly supports the #2024UNCSC, #WTISD (May 17), and the Summit of the Future #SOTF. – Bircan Ünver, Moderator of the session 

PROGRAM & BIOS of the SPEAKERS | DESCRIPTION & CONCEPT