April 27, 2009 -- Scrawny people hear noises differently than their muscular counterparts, according to a new study that found wimpier men and women perceive approaching sounds as being closer than they actually are. While the error in perceptual judgment causes less physically fit individuals to forever underestimate the arrival time of whatever, or whomever, is making the sound, the goof provides a potentially life-saving advantage. "From an evolutionary perspective, this anticipatory error would have little cost and actually give the organism slightly more time than expected to prepare to engage or evade the source," lead investigator John Neuhoff told Discovery News. Neuhoff, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at The College of Wooster, will present the findings May 21 at the Acoustical Society of America meeting in Portland, Ore. Related Content:
For the study, he and colleagues Katherine Long and Rebecca Worthington measured the physical fitness of test subjects using recovering heart rate after exercise and grip strength. Participants listened to a "looming" tone moving toward them, and were asked to press a button when they thought the sound had moved directly in front of them. Although 98 percent of all listeners pressed the button too soon, individuals with greater upper body strength and/or stronger cardiovascular systems waited longer, while subjects in worse physical shape gave themselves a greater "margin of safety." In general, this and other studies show women tend to push the button before men, and both sexes perceive receding, and therefore less threatening, sounds equally. Neuhoff explained that the response to looming sounds is probably influenced by many factors, including spatial hearing skills, physical fitness, risk-taking tendencies and even practice-honed expertise. For example, he speculates traffic cops might perform better on the test than average listeners. "The new finding here is that physical fitness does play a role," he said. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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