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CC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Efficacy of pink noise and earplugs for mitigating the effects of intermittent environmental noise exposure on sleep
Sleep (New York, N.Y.), 7809084
02/02/2026
PMID: 41627391
Appears in Aviation Sustainability Center (ASCENT)
Abstract
Study: Objectives Nighttime environmental noise (EN) exposure disturbs sleep and increases morbidity and mortality. Affordable and effective countermeasures are needed, but rigorous research is scarce. This study investigates the efficacy of pink noise (PN) and earplugs for mitigating the effects of intermittent EN on sleep. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults (mean +/- SD age 28.5 +/- 5.9 years, seven male) participated in a seven-night polysomnographic laboratory study with different noise conditions including exposure to EN (93 events; maximum sound pressure level 45 to 65 dBA), PN (40 or 50 dBA), earplugs, and their combination. In the morning, participants completed cognitive tests, cardiovascular measurements, hearing tests, and surveys. Results: Compared to a noise-free control night, EN reduced N3 deep sleep (p < .0001) while PN reduced REM sleep (p < .001). Adding PN to EN worsened sleep structure, despite minor dose-dependent improvements of EN-induced sleep fragmentation and N3 sleep increases. Earplugs mitigated nearly all EN effects on sleep but started failing at the highest EN level (65 dBA). Morning cognition, cardiovascular measures, and hearing were not affected by nighttime noise, but subjective assessments of sleep, alertness and mood were significantly worse after EN and PN exposure. Conclusions: In contrast to PN, earplugs proved efficacious in mitigating the effects of EN on sleep. Considering the importance of REM sleep for memory, emotion regulation, and neurodevelopment, the negative effects of PN on REM sleep caution against the widespread and indiscriminate use of broadband noise (BN). Additional research on optimal BN color/level and long-term use is needed, especially in vulnerable populations.Clinical Trial Registration Registered at clinicaltrials.gov under "Broadband Sound and Sleep"; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05774977; registration # NCT05774977.
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Details
- Title
- Efficacy of pink noise and earplugs for mitigating the effects of intermittent environmental noise exposure on sleep
- Creators
- Mathias Basner - University of PennsylvaniaMichael G. Smith - University of PennsylvaniaMakayla Cordoza - Vanderbilt UniversityMatthew S. Kayser - University of PennsylvaniaMichele Carlin - University of PennsylvaniaAdrian J. Ecker - University of PennsylvaniaYoni Gilad - University of PennsylvaniaSierra Park-Chavar - University of PennsylvaniaKa'alana Rennie - Supreme Council Of HealthVictoria Schneller - University of PennsylvaniaSinead Walsh - University of PennsylvaniaHaochang Shou - University of PennsylvaniaQuy Cao - University of PennsylvaniaMagdy Younes - University of ManitobaDaniel Aeschbach - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)Christopher W. Jones - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Sleep (New York, N.Y.), 7809084
- Academic Unit
- Aviation Sustainability Center (ASCENT); Noise
- Publisher
- Oxford Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grants
- 13-C-AJFE-UPENN-015, Federal Aviation Administration (United States, Washington) - FAA
- Grant note
- U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Office of Environment and Energy through ASCENT 86; 13-C-AJFE-UPENN / FAA Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and the Environment through FAA
- Identifiers
- 99901364589801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article