Infrasound Raises Stress Hormone, Irritability in Lab
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- Infrasound is ubiquitous in everyday environments such as traffic, ventilation systems, and aging pipes in old buildings.
- 36 participants exposed to 18 Hz infrasound while listening to music showed elevated salivary cortisol compared with controls.
- Cortisol levels rose alongside self‑reported irritability, reduced engagement, and a more negative appraisal of the music after infrasound exposure.
- Participants could not reliably detect the presence of infrasound, and their belief about its presence had no measurable effect on cortisol or mood.
- Rodney Schmaltz and co‑authors highlight that physiological responses to inaudible vibrations may explain eerie feelings in old buildings and call for larger studies and possible revisions to noise‑regulation or building‑design standards.
Why it matters: Occupants of older buildings, architects, and health regulators gain evidence that invisible low‑frequency vibrations can trigger stress responses, while residents may suffer unnoticed cortisol spikes and irritability; the study suggests a need to reassess building‑design guidelines and noise‑regulation policies to protect wellbeing.
