A Comprehensive Review
by Bart P. Billings, Ph.D
Long term exposure to excessive levels of High Intensity Low Frequency (HI/LF) sound, such as that produced by highly amplified bass music, airplanes, racing cars, battle field noise, etc. can not only be physically harmful, but can cause complications that can lead to death.
Another factor contributing to the release of endorphins that impressed me was the fact that, "low frequency sound pulses, at or near a person's heart rate, seem to cause the human system to lock in to the sound generator", (Orr,1996). Once this occurs, changes in the frequency or rate of sound causes corresponding changes in the person's heart rate, as well as changes in other physical functions , a process known as entrainment. What has been indicated in the world of video games is that, the ones with the best graphics are not most popular, but the games that have a low frequency pulse, near the heartbeat rate, that accelerates as the game progresses, are played more often.
Cody D. Weightman, former crew chief on an aircraft carrier, relates his past experiences to what I have discussed in terms of a person being addicted to the body's release of endorphins and adrenaline. He also observed staff being disoriented after long exposure to HI/LF sound from the jet engines.
"Working the flight deck was the most exciting thing I've ever done, but I also hated every second of it. Once the planes left the flight deck on flight operations, there was always a let down, kind of like coming down from a drug high. Once the planes returned, your energy level quickly increased" (This observation is consistent with addictive behavior.).
"A person can actually become addicted to the release of their own natural pain killers (endorphins) as runners do"
When discussing the effects of HI/LF sound with a friend who specializes in bio feedback training, he indicated that individuals who are experiencing this type sound are most likely to be, for the most part, in hyper beta and would be hyper vigilant. Since this state is hard to sustain over long periods of time, it is not unusual for the brain to jump to theta state directly as a protective measure. Since theta is associated with dreamy states, thus the possibility for disorientation and confusion. This may account for poor judgment when one is exposed to HI/LF sound for sustained periods of time. This situation, in conjunction with actual brain cell damage, results in a less and less effective person and one subject to accidents.
With all of the physical problems associated with HI/LF sound, one may ask the question, "Why would human beings expose themselves to sound that is obviously painful?"
Choice Theory explains that all Total Behavior is chosen and all the choices are an ongoing attempt to change the real world so that it coincides with a small, simulated world that we build into our memory called the Quality World. (Vzdycky me fascinuje, s jakym vysvetlenim jsou psychologove schopni prijit. Nechapu jak se takovehle interpretace daji overit)
As N'omi Orr once stated, "Military drums play music designed to make your feet take you where your head never would-Music is almost as dangerous as gunpowder-"
To paraphrase the words to an old song, "Killing me loudly with his song, killing me loudly" is a reality that is not far from the truth.
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