Effects of additive sensory noise on cognition

Sherman, Sage O.; Greenstein, Michael; Basner, Mathias; Clark, Torin K.; Anderson, Allison P.

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1092154

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…This is furthered by a recent investigation which observed mixed results for AWN and cognition in neurotypical subjects (Awada et al, 2022). Further, research conducted by our lab found no broad cognitive enhancements under sensory noise, but found that subject interactions were significant, with subjects that self-reported being able to work better with background noise showing cognitive enhancement as a result of sensory noise treatment (Sherman et al, 2023a). This implies that applying sensory noise for cognitive processing may only be beneficial for certain individuals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

“…Along this notion, sensory noise has been shown to improve elements of cognition, such as working memory (Wilkinson et al, 2008;Söderlund et al, 2010). Further, previous research conducted in our lab showed that certain individuals may show comprehensive cognitive improvement (Sherman et al, 2023a). This evidence implies that SR could be useful for improving information processing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…There are a few limitations to this study that are worth noting. First, previous research conducted for perceptual and cognitive SR have identified that there is a subject and task specific optimal noise level to induce performance enhancement (Ries, 2007;Voros et al, 2021;Sherman et al, 2023a). Since this task is a learning paradigm, there was no efficient way of identifying a subject's specific optimal 10.3389/fnins.2023.1180314 Frontiers in Neuroscience 12 frontiersin.org noise level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Training augmentation using additive sensory noise in a lunar rover navigation task

Sherman,

Jonsen,

Lewis

et al. 2023

Front. Neurosci.

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BackgroundThe uncertain environments of future space missions means that astronauts will need to acquire new skills rapidly; thus, a non-invasive method to enhance learning of complex tasks is desirable. Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon where adding noise improves the throughput of a weak signal. SR has been shown to improve perception and cognitive performance in certain individuals. However, the learning of operational tasks and behavioral health effects of repeated noise exposure aimed to elicit SR are unknown.ObjectiveWe evaluated the long-term impacts and acceptability of repeated auditory white noise (AWN) and/or noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) on operational learning and behavioral health.MethodsSubjects (n = 24) participated in a time longitudinal experiment to access learning and behavioral health. Subjects were assigned to one of our four treatments: sham, AWN (55 dB SPL), nGVS (0.5 mA), and their combination to create a multi-modal SR (MMSR) condition. To assess the effects of additive noise on learning, these treatments were administered continuously during a lunar rover simulation in virtual reality. To assess behavioral health, subjects completed daily, subjective questionnaires related to their mood, sleep, stress, and their perceived acceptance of noise stimulation.ResultsWe found that subjects learned the lunar rover task over time, as shown by significantly lower power required for the rover to complete traverses (p < 0.005) and increased object identification accuracy in the environment (p = 0.05), but this was not influenced by additive SR noise (p = 0.58). We found no influence of noise on mood or stress following stimulation (p > 0.09). We found marginally significant longitudinal effects of noise on behavioral health (p = 0.06) as measured by strain and sleep. We found slight differences in stimulation acceptability between treatment groups, and notably nGVS was found to be more distracting than sham (p = 0.006).ConclusionOur results suggest that repeatedly administering sensory noise does not improve long-term operational learning performance or affect behavioral health. We also find that repetitive noise administration is acceptable in this context. While additive noise does not improve performance in this paradigm, if it were used for other contexts, it appears acceptable without negative longitudinal effects.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Training augmentation using additive sensory noise in a lunar rover navigation task

Sherman,

Jonsen,

Lewis

et al. 2023

Front. Neurosci.

Self Cite

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Additive Sensory Noise Effects on Operator Performance in a Lunar Landing Simulation

Sherman,

Shen,

Gutierrez-Mendoza

et al. 2023

aerosp med hum perform

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INTRODUCTION: Adding noise to a system to improve a weak signal’s detectability is known as stochastic resonance (SR). SR has been shown to improve sensory perception and cognitive performance in certain individuals, but it is unknown whether this performance improvement can translate to meaningful macrocognitive enhancements in performance for complex, operational tasks.OBJECTIVE: We investigated human operator performance in a lunar landing simulation while applying auditory white noise and/or noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation.METHODS: We measured performance (N = 16 subjects) while completing simulation trials in our Aerospace Research Simulator. Trials were completed with and without the influence of auditory white noise, noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation, and both simultaneously in a multimodal fashion. Performance was observed holistically and across subdimensions of the task, which included flight skill and perception. Subjective mental workload was collected after completing four trials in each treatment.RESULTS: We did not find broad operator improvement under the influence of noise, but a significant interaction was identified between subject and noise treatment, indicating that some subjects were impacted by additive noise. We also found significant interactions between subject and noise treatment in performance subdimensions of flight skill and perception. We found no significant main effects on mental workload.CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the utility of using additive sensory noise to induce SR for complex tasks. While SR has been shown to improve aspects of performance, our results suggest additive noise does not yield operational performance changes for a broad population, but specific individuals may be affected.Sherman SO, Shen Y-Y, Gutierrez-Mendoza D, Schlittenhart M, Watson C, Clark TK, Anderson AP. Additive sensory noise effects on operator performance in a lunar landing simulation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(10):770–779.

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Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Advancements for Spatial Disorientation Training

Allred,

Lippert,

Wood

2024

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance

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INTRODUCTION: Spatial disorientation (SD) remains the leading contributor to Class A mishaps in the U.S. Navy, consistent with historical trends. Despite this, SD training for military aircrew is largely confined to the classroom and experiential training replicating SD illusions is limited and infrequent. Static flight simulators are most commonly used for training but offer no vestibular stimulation to the flight crew, omitting the source of vestibular-mediated SD.BACKGROUND: We first cover vestibular-mediated SD illusions which may be replicated through galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) in a static environment. GVS is a safe, reliable, low-cost avenue for providing vestibular sensory stimulation. We review the underlying mechanisms of GVS such as the excitement and inhibition of the afferent neurons innervating the vestibular system, particularly in the binaural bipolar electrode montage.APPLICATIONS: Two approaches for how GVS may be used to enhance SD training are examined. The first is a means for providing unreliable vestibular sensory perceptions to pilots, and the second details how GVS can be leveraged for replicating vestibular-mediated SD illusions.DISCUSSION: We recommend GVS be pursued as an enhancement to existing SD training. The ability to disorient aircrew in the safe training environment of a static flight simulator would allow for aircrew familiarization to SD, serving as an opportunity to practice life-saving checklist items to recover from SD. A repeatable training profile that could be worn by military aircrew in a static flight simulator may afford a low-cost training solution to the number one cause of fatalities in military aviation.Allred AR, Lippert AF, Wood SJ. Galvanic vestibular stimulation advancements for spatial disorientation training. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(7):390–398.

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Effects of additive sensory noise on cognition

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Training augmentation using additive sensory noise in a lunar rover navigation task

Training augmentation using additive sensory noise in a lunar rover navigation task

Additive Sensory Noise Effects on Operator Performance in a Lunar Landing Simulation

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Advancements for Spatial Disorientation Training

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