Summary
The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of infrasound on behavioral performance in rats. The rats were divided into two groups, one selected for good performance (six rats: superior group) and the other for poor performance (six rats: inferior group) on the Rota-Rod Treadmill.
Exposure conditions were as follows:
Exp. 1 Control (150 min), Exp. 2 Exposure to infrasound with a main frequency of 16 Hz and a sound pressure level of 105 dB (S.P.L.) (70 min), Exp. 3 Exposure to infrasound with a main frequency of 16 Hz and a sound pressure level of 95 dB (S.P.L.) (70 min), Exp. 4 Exposure to infrasound with a main frequency of 16 Hz and a sound pressure level of 85 dB (S.P.L.) (150 min), Exp. 5 Exposure to infrasound with a main frequency of 16 Hz and a sound pressure level of 75 dB (S.P.L.) (150 min), Exp. 6 Exposure to Pink Noise of 72 dB (A) (70 min).
Comparison of the pre-exposure endurance time (Maximum: 2 min) on the Rota-Rod Treadmill with endurance after exposure to infrasound showed that the endurance time of the superior group after exposure to 16 Hz, 105 dB was not reduced. The endurance of the inferior group was reduced by exposure to 16 Hz, 105 dB after 10 min, to 16 Hz, 95 dB after 70 min, and to 16 Hz, 85 dB after 150 min.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown R (1973) New worries about unheard sound. New Sci 8: 414–415
Bryan M, Tempest W (1972)) Does infrasound make drivers ‘drunk’? New Sci 16: 584–586
Dunham NW, Miya TS (1957) A note on a simple apparatus for detecting neurological deficit in rats and mice. J Am Pharm Assoc Sci Ed 46: 208–209
Gavreau V (1968) Infrasound. Sci J 4: 33–37
Japan Environmental Agency (1977) An investigation of physiological effect of infrasound. Foundation of transportation Medicine, Tokyo, pp 1–43
Johnson DL (1975) Auditory and physiological effects of infrasound. Inter-noise 75: 475–482
Kaplan ML, Murphy SD (1972) Effect of acrylamide on rotarod performance and sciatic nerve-glucuronidase activity of rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 22: 259–268
Kishi R, Ikeda S, Miyake H (1979) Effect of low levels of lead exposure on behaviour in rats. Igaku no Ayumi 111: 83–85
Office of Environmental Pollution of Tokyo Megalopolis (1976) The review of infrasound and examples about it. Tokyo Megalopolis, Tokyo, pp 1–46
Ozawa S, Moritoh Y, Maeda T, Kinoshita M (1976) Investigation of pressure wave radiated from a Tunnel Exit. Railw Tech Res Rep 1023: 1–28
Seigel S (1956) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 166–173
Yamamura K (1977) Effect of infrasound on man. In: Miura K, Saito H, Kano H, Fujimoto T, Tada O (eds) Handbook of occupational health (3rd edn. Supplement). The Institute for Science of Labour, Tokyo, pp 69–74
Yoshida Y, Machida N, Ito S, Tomita K (1976) Effect of infrasound on rabbits. 17th Japanese Erogonomic. Jpn J Ergonomics, pp 90–91
Young LR (1974) Role of the vestibular system in posture and movement. In: Mountcastle VB (ed) Medical physiology, vol I. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 704–719
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamamura, K., Kishi, R. Effects of infrasound on the Rota-Rod Treadmill performance of rats. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 45, 81–86 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421204
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421204