Background: Noise sensitivity describes an individual's general reactivity to sound. It is a common trait found in many clinical populations and describes approximately 20% of the general population. Little is known about its underlying mechanisms, however.
Objectives: Here we present findings from three studies designed to expose differences in electrophysiological measures between noise-sensitive and noise-resistant individuals.
Method: Noise sensitivity was estimated using self-report measures, while electrophysiological indices included both cardiac (heart rate, heart rate variability) and electroencephalographic (event-related potential) measures. All three studies were designed with reference to preexisting theoretical frameworks.
Results: Significant differences in heart rate change and heart rate variability indices between noise-sensitive and noise-resistant groups were found. Further, the noise-sensitive group exhibited less sensory gating than the noise-resistant group.
Conclusions: While the findings from all three studies were not definitive in indicating a likely biological mechanism underlying noise sensitivity, they do suggest that electrophysiological investigation of noise sensitivity is viable and has potential to inform clinical research into a relatively understudied symptom.
Keywords: Electroencephalography; Event-related potentials; Heart rate variability; Noise sensitivity; Sensory gating.