Biological response to noise and other physical stressor in places of entertainment

The present study was designed in order to evaluate if the stressors produced in discotheques, and in particular high levels of noise, may lead to the impairment of some psychophysiological functions. The survey was carried out on 34 students who were exposed to noise in a discotheque (with levels ranging from 90 to 103 dBA) and to other environmental stressors (vibrations, psychedelic lights) for a period of five hours. The same subjects were examined on another day in the absence of relevant acoustical and visual stimulations. Biochemical (urinary catecholamines and cortisol) and cardiovascular (bio od pressure and heart rate) indicators of stress were measured. Selected psychophysiological functions (reaction-time task and visual acuity) and some personality traits were also estimated.An increase in urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and cortisol was observed in most of the subjects during their presence in the discotheque in comparison to the control condition. A moderate variation was found with reference to cardiovascular parameters. No significant variation of reaction time was observed in performance tasks, while a significant impairment of visual stereoscopic perception was detected after exposure to stressors in the discotheque. The preliminary findings suggest that physical stressors, and, in particular, noise, may be related to a marked activation of the neuroendocrine system and impairment of some sensory functions.