A Study in Infrasound and Game Performance

Et studie i infralyd og spil performance

Hansen, Kim Young Hornshøj

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2013

2013-05-23

53

Dette studie undersøger, om meget lavfrekvent lyd, såkaldt infralyd (under 20 Hz og ofte uhørbar), kan påvirke, hvor godt mennesker spiller videospil. Tidligere forskning tyder på, at infralyd kan have psykoakustiske virkninger på kroppen, f.eks. øge hjertefrekvens og blodtryk, og fremkalde følelser, der ligner frygt eller angst. Disse reaktioner er en del af kamp-eller-flugt-responsen, som midlertidigt kan skærpe præstation. I dette studie blev 24 deltagere udsat for en 16 Hz tone ved 64 dB lydtrykniveau (10 i en forundersøgelse og 14 i en endelig test). Der blev ikke registreret ændringer i hjertefrekvens eller blodtryk, men en lille stigning i galvanisk hudrespons (hudledningsevne forbundet med fysiologisk arousal) blev målt. Hos de 14 personer i den endelige test steg spilpræstationen signifikant. Testdesignet havde dog begrænsninger, og proceduren kræver mere omhyggelig planlægning for at give pålidelige data. Derfor kan studiet ikke drage en endelig konklusion om, hvorvidt infralyd forbedrer spilpræstation.

This study explores whether very low-frequency sound, known as infrasound (below 20 Hz and often inaudible), can influence how well people play video games. Prior research suggests that infrasound can have psychoacoustic effects on the body, such as increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and can evoke feelings similar to fear or anxiety. These reactions are part of the fight-or-flight response, which can temporarily sharpen performance. In our study, 24 participants were exposed to a 16 Hz tone at 64 dB sound pressure level (10 in a preliminary test and 14 in a final test). We observed no changes in heart rate or blood pressure, but there was a small increase in galvanic skin response (skin conductance related to physiological arousal). Among the 14 people in the final test, game performance increased significantly. However, the test design had limitations, and the procedure needs more careful planning to ensure reliable data. As a result, the study cannot draw a firm conclusion about whether infrasound improves game performance.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

infrasound ; game ; performance ; gsr ; scl ; galvanic ; skin ; response

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