The effects of explosion sound on the brain based on electroencephalogram signals

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the brain reactions to explosion sound are investigated. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of 17 people were recorded. Subjects were selected from three groups: staff who did not face explosion before, blasting employees of surface, and underground mining workers. Routine EEG signals, also called explosion sounds, were recorded. Explosion sound was broadcasted without any previous alarm. Then it was repeated with their pre-awareness. Gradient and time duration of Delta band of EEG signals were extracted as features. Results showed that for blasting employees, especially underground ones, an increase of mean amplitude of delta band power of EEG signals of motor, speech, auditory and visual sensations were occurred, while in the case of staff it was decreased. This shows consciousness arising of blasting employees with hearing explosion sound. The reaction of somatosensory sense was dropped for all three groups. In general, reaction time for blasting employees has been longer than staff.

KEYWORDS:

• Cautious reaction
• electroencephalogram (EEG)
• explosion sound
• reaction time
• wavelet

Acknowledgments

The authors thank employees of Madan Negar Novin and Shahrood University of Technology for their assistance.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shahrood University of Technology [grant number 13180].