Help Reduce Highway Noise Pollution Click on the image for more information. By Jack Smith Planes, trains, automobiles. Rings, honks, beeps. It's enough to make anyone lose their mind. Now researchers are beginning to believe that's not too far from the truth.
Evidence indicates that noise actually affects the brain.
Gary Evans of Cornell University studied school children near a new airport in Germany. After the airport opened, the kids had higher blood pressure, higher levels of certain stress hormones, and lower reading scores. Noise is a source of stress. Both because, I think, it's annoying, but also because it's difficult or impossible to control it. Not only is it bothersome, but noise can interfere with learning.