Quantitative Evaluations of the Effects of Noise on Mental Workloads Based on Pupil Dilation during Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Noise can exert undeniable pressure on human minds, especially during tasks that require high precision and attention, such as those performed during surgery. To investigate whether auditory stimuli increases mental loads during laparoscopic surgery, we examined the effects of operating room (OR) noises and music by measuring mean changes in pupil sizes and subjectively assessing performances during surgery. We recruited 24 subjects with varying laparoscopic surgery experience levels to perform complete appendectomy using a laparoscopic simulator. Wearable eye trackers were worn by all subjects to monitor pupil sizes during surgery, and surgical tasks were performed under conditions of silence, background OR noise, and music. National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index scores and performance parameters were also recorded during surgical tasks. Noise distractions were associated with significant increases in pupil sizes compared with those observed in silence, and the related increases in mental loads may have affected surgical performance. However, more experienced operators had smaller changes in pupil sizes because of auditory disturbances than moderately experienced surgeons. Noise stimulation in the OR increases surgeon's mental workload and performance. Auditory regulation of the OR may be better standardized using data from studies of the effects of acoustic stimulation in the OR, and mental stresses during surgery could be considered in a more humane manner. Further investigations are necessary to determine the cognitive consequences of various auditory stimuli.

The Effect of Noise Levels in the Operating Room on the Stress Levels and Workload of the Operating Room Team

“…However, as the noise level increases, workload levels of the OR staff also increase. Parallel to this finding, intraoperative noise increased workload levels among the anesthesia team in the study by McNeer et al 12 Gao et al 13 also reported that intraoperative noise increases the surgeon's mental workload (referring to the mental effort required by the task, eg, thinking, deciding, calculating, and remembering).…”

Associations Between Job Demands, Perceptions of Noise at Work and the Psychological Contract

“…These resources are then no longer available for the task being performed and performance is impaired [21,22]. This view is supported by studies which have measured workload and shown that it is increased in noise [23,24,25,26,27]. In addition, the extra workload may lead to increased stress and, in the long term, chronic health problems.…”

Effects of Perceptions of Information Overload, Noise and Environmental Demands on Wellbeing and Academic Attainment

“…These resources are then no longer available for the task being performed and performance is impaired [21,22]. Results from a number of studies [23,24,25,26,27] show that noise increases mental workload. Information overload has been studied extensively, and the aim of the present research was to examine the effects of information overload on the wellbeing and academic attainment of university students.…”