The Sound of Distraction - Einzelansicht

Recent research emphasizes that environmental noise causes stress, disturbs sleep and impairs cognitive performance. Empirical evidence from epidemiologic studies even suggests that ongoing noise pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular effects. The current project aims to differentiate the influence of selected sound variables on individual levels of stress, bodily arousal and cognitive performance. Eye-tracking measures are applied to determine psychological and physiological changes during task processing in situations of environmental noises. Project students are asked to work themselves into the wearable eye-tracking technology and to carry out experiments in real-world settings. In a second part of the project, results from the field study are contrasted against findings from lab sessions to evaluate possibilities and limitations of physiological computing in the field of noise research.

The project is carried out in close cooperation with the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA).

Will be announced

Time and place will be announced at the project fair.

responsible lecturer: 

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jan Ehlers

Dr. Jan Grenzebach

We assume you are interested in carrying out empirical eye-tracking studies to evaluate the influence of various sounds and volume differences on cognitive performance and bodily arousal. (Basic) Programming skills, especially in Python, are a precondition; knowledge of quantitative research and the experimental method is helpful.

Project members are asked to create and implement experimental scenarios (both lab and field studies) on basis of wearable and stationary eye-trackers in order to investigate the influence of environmental noise on cognitive performance. Results need to be statistically tested and documented in a lab report.

B.Sc. Medieninformatik / Informatik

M.Sc. Computer Science for Digital Media

M.Sc. Human-Computer Interaction