Cardiovascular effects of noise during complex task performance.

Ten human subjects were stimulated with intermittent pink noise during the performance of a computerized task. Each subject received 3 consecutive sessions consisting of 10 min of baseline, 30 min of task performance, and 10 min of post-task baseline. Noise stimulation was presented during minutes 10-20 of task performance. Task performance was associated with significant increases in mean blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate and significant decreases in digital pulse amplitude. Noise stimulation was associated with a further decrease in digital pulse amplitude and a further increase in mean blood pressure. Noise- and task-elicited blood pressure and vasomotor responses did not habituate.