Have no fear if you’re un-fit.
A new study reveals that the less physically fit you are, the better the chances of you hearing danger when it is coming straight at you.
The study was done by a team of researchers at the College of Wooster and sampled 50 people-25 male and 25 female. According to John Neuhoff, associate professor at the college, all of the people were given headphones in which they listened to noises the researchers played.
“We presented listeners with sounds over the headphones-virtual sounds and three-dimensional sounds, so it was as if you were standing on the street and a car was coming straight in front of you,” Neuhoff said.
The researchers then asked the listeners to push a button when they heard the sound directly in front of them.
“All of them had pressed the button too early,” said Neuhoff.
Next, the researchers measured the samples’ physical fitness, upper body strength and cardiovascular fitness. Fitness levels were measured with hand grip tests and a step test in which subjects had to step up and down on a 12 inch step for three minutes, then sit down and have their pulse measured for 60 seconds. The lower the pulse rate, Neuhoff said, the better shape a person is in.
What the researchers found was that the people in poorer shape hit the button sooner.
“If you’re in poor shape you’re going to hit the button sooner. If you’re in better shape, then you want a little bit longer and don’t push it as soon,” said Neuhoff. “We’ve got some ideas about how evolution might have shaped that over time.”
Neuhoff said the researchers also looked at the differences in males and females, and found that while males typically have stronger upper body strength, that was probably the reason why more females pushed the button sooner.
So what does this mean? Neuhoff said that if a person’s body is not physically fit, their auditory skills take over, helping them in a situation of danger.
To learn more about Neuhoff and his studies, visit www.jneuhoff.com.
posted @ Tuesday, May 05, 2009 11:24 AM