Stress reactions to cognitively demanding tasks and open-plan office noise

Jesper Kristiansen; Line Mathiesen; Pernille Kofoed Nielsen; Åse Marie Hansen; Hitomi Shibuya; Helga Munch Petersen; Søren Peter Lund; Jørgen Skotte; Marie Birk Jørgensen; Karen Søgaard

doi:10.1007/s00420-008-0367-4

Stress reactions to cognitively demanding tasks and open-plan office noise

Jesper Kristiansen, Line Mathiesen, Pernille Kofoed Nielsen, Åse Marie Hansen, Hitomi Shibuya, Helga Munch Petersen, Søren Peter Lund, Jørgen Skotte, Marie Birk Jørgensen, Karen Søgaard

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of cognitively demanding work tasks and office noise on heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular responses and electromyography (EMG) activity in the trapezius muscles. METHODS: Ten female volunteers were exposed to simulated open-plan office noise for 35 min (Leq 65 dBA), while engaged in cognitively demanding tasks. Task performance, self-rated stress and energy, affective state, perceived exertion in the shoulders and in the head, EMG in the left and right trapezius muscle, blood pressure, heart period length, HRV, and salivary cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Cognitively demanding work tasks were associated with changes in HRV, systolic blood pressure and EMG that reflects increased sympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system. No effect of noise was observed, except for a higher rating of perceived exertion in the head and, contrary to expectations, a 4% lower diastolic blood pressure in the noise conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Psychophysiological measures reflected the mental load imposed by cognitive work tasks. Short-term exposure to office noise resulted in increased ratings of perceived exertion in the head, but not in physiological stress reactions.

Original language	English
Journal	International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Volume	82
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	631-41
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0340-0131
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0367-4
Publication status	Published - 2009

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@article{d136b510835011df928f000ea68e967b,

title = "Stress reactions to cognitively demanding tasks and open-plan office noise",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of cognitively demanding work tasks and office noise on heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular responses and electromyography (EMG) activity in the trapezius muscles. METHODS: Ten female volunteers were exposed to simulated open-plan office noise for 35 min (Leq 65 dBA), while engaged in cognitively demanding tasks. Task performance, self-rated stress and energy, affective state, perceived exertion in the shoulders and in the head, EMG in the left and right trapezius muscle, blood pressure, heart period length, HRV, and salivary cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Cognitively demanding work tasks were associated with changes in HRV, systolic blood pressure and EMG that reflects increased sympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system. No effect of noise was observed, except for a higher rating of perceived exertion in the head and, contrary to expectations, a 4% lower diastolic blood pressure in the noise conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Psychophysiological measures reflected the mental load imposed by cognitive work tasks. Short-term exposure to office noise resulted in increased ratings of perceived exertion in the head, but not in physiological stress reactions.",

author = "Jesper Kristiansen and Line Mathiesen and Nielsen, {Pernille Kofoed} and Hansen, {{\AA}se Marie} and Hitomi Shibuya and Petersen, {Helga Munch} and Lund, {S{\o}ren Peter} and J{\o}rgen Skotte and J{\o}rgensen, {Marie Birk} and Karen S{\o}gaard",

note = "Keywords: Adult; Affective Symptoms; Blood Pressure; Cognition; Electromyography; Female; Heart; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Noise, Occupational; Physical Exertion; Saliva; Stress, Psychological; Task Performance and Analysis",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1007/s00420-008-0367-4",

language = "English",

volume = "82",

pages = "631--41",

journal = "International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health",

issn = "0340-0131",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Stress reactions to cognitively demanding tasks and open-plan office noise

AU - Kristiansen, Jesper

AU - Mathiesen, Line

AU - Nielsen, Pernille Kofoed

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Shibuya, Hitomi

AU - Petersen, Helga Munch

AU - Lund, Søren Peter

AU - Skotte, Jørgen

AU - Jørgensen, Marie Birk

AU - Søgaard, Karen

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Affective Symptoms; Blood Pressure; Cognition; Electromyography; Female; Heart; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Noise, Occupational; Physical Exertion; Saliva; Stress, Psychological; Task Performance and Analysis

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of cognitively demanding work tasks and office noise on heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular responses and electromyography (EMG) activity in the trapezius muscles. METHODS: Ten female volunteers were exposed to simulated open-plan office noise for 35 min (Leq 65 dBA), while engaged in cognitively demanding tasks. Task performance, self-rated stress and energy, affective state, perceived exertion in the shoulders and in the head, EMG in the left and right trapezius muscle, blood pressure, heart period length, HRV, and salivary cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Cognitively demanding work tasks were associated with changes in HRV, systolic blood pressure and EMG that reflects increased sympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system. No effect of noise was observed, except for a higher rating of perceived exertion in the head and, contrary to expectations, a 4% lower diastolic blood pressure in the noise conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Psychophysiological measures reflected the mental load imposed by cognitive work tasks. Short-term exposure to office noise resulted in increased ratings of perceived exertion in the head, but not in physiological stress reactions.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of cognitively demanding work tasks and office noise on heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular responses and electromyography (EMG) activity in the trapezius muscles. METHODS: Ten female volunteers were exposed to simulated open-plan office noise for 35 min (Leq 65 dBA), while engaged in cognitively demanding tasks. Task performance, self-rated stress and energy, affective state, perceived exertion in the shoulders and in the head, EMG in the left and right trapezius muscle, blood pressure, heart period length, HRV, and salivary cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Cognitively demanding work tasks were associated with changes in HRV, systolic blood pressure and EMG that reflects increased sympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system. No effect of noise was observed, except for a higher rating of perceived exertion in the head and, contrary to expectations, a 4% lower diastolic blood pressure in the noise conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Psychophysiological measures reflected the mental load imposed by cognitive work tasks. Short-term exposure to office noise resulted in increased ratings of perceived exertion in the head, but not in physiological stress reactions.

U2 - 10.1007/s00420-008-0367-4

DO - 10.1007/s00420-008-0367-4

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18936956

SN - 0340-0131

VL - 82

SP - 631

EP - 641

JO - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

JF - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

IS - 5

ER -

Stress reactions to cognitively demanding tasks and open-plan office noise

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