infrasound / cortisol / noise pollution

Researchers link infrasound — very low-frequency sound below human hearing — to sensations commonly described as haunted buildings, suggesting physiological and psychological responses (e.g., anxiety, chills, sense of presence) can be triggered by specific low-frequency acoustic modes in old structures. The article points to a recent neuroscience/behavioral study discussed on Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience and highlights a scienceblog summary debated on Hacker News, with users noting possible AI-generated journalism and questioning journalistic rigor. This matters for architects, building managers, VR/AR creators, and acoustic engineers because identifying and mitigating infrasound sources could reduce misattributed paranormal experiences or be deliberately used in immersive environments. Key players: researchers, scienceblog, Frontiers journal, Hacker News community.

Researchers at MacEwan University found that inaudible infrasound (~18 Hz) can raise salivary cortisol and increase irritability and disinterest without participants knowing they were exposed. In a controlled experiment, 36 undergraduates listened to calming or horror-themed tracks while hidden subwoofers emitted infrasound into half the rooms. Participants could not reliably detect the presence of infrasound, and their beliefs about exposure did not affect results. The exposure made music seem sadder and raised physiological stress markers, but did not increase anxiety—suggesting low-frequency environmental noise produces low-grade irritability rather than fear. This matters for building design, urban infrastructure, and UX around public spaces and consumer audio systems.

Researchers from MacEwan University and the University of Alberta report that brief infrasound exposure was associated with higher stress and more negative mood in humans, even when participants could not consciously detect it. In a Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience paper published April 27, 2026, the team tested 36 participants in a 2×2 between-subjects design: calming vs. unsettling music, with ~18 Hz infrasound either on or off. Participants detected infrasound no better than chance (p=0.241), but the infrasound condition showed elevated salivary cortisol (p=0.022; rrb=0.390) and higher self-reported irritability, disinterest, and sadness appraisal (including p=0.002; η²=0.253). Random-forest modeling also identified these measures as predictors of exposure. The findings add evidence that infrasound may act as an environmental irritant relevant to urban and industrial noise sources.

Researchers at MacEwan University and the University of Alberta report that infrasound exposure can increase stress and negative mood in humans, even when people cannot consciously hear it. In a Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience paper published April 27, 2026, the team tested 36 participants in a 2×2 design: calming vs. unsettling music, with ~18 Hz infrasound on vs. off. Participants could not detect infrasound above chance (p=0.241), but those exposed showed higher salivary cortisol (p=0.022; rrb=0.390) and more negative self-reports, including irritability (p=0.049) and sadness appraisal (p=0.002). Random-forest modeling also identified cortisol and affect measures as predictors of exposure. The findings suggest infrasound may act as an environmental irritant relevant to urban and infrastructure noise.

A study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that exposure to infrasound (~18 Hz) increases subjective negativity and physiological stress: volunteers showed higher self-reported negative mood and elevated cortisol after sessions with infrasound. Led by Kale Scatterty (Univ. of Alberta) and Trevor Hamilton and Rodney Schmaltz (MacEwan University), the team combined mood surveys and saliva cortisol from 36 undergraduates who listened to calming or unsettling music with and without added infrasound. Results support prior links between subaudible frequencies and unease, and suggest infrasound from natural disasters or human sources (industrial machinery, wind farms, HVAC, transport, military) could create environmental irritants or contribute to “haunted” sensations. The study matters for noise-pollution assessment and public health in built and industrial environments.