Effects of Noise and Heat Stress on Primary and Subsidiary Task Performance

Abstract

A primary pursuit rotor task and concurrent subsidiary number processing task were performed by 72 male and 72 female paid volunteers who were experiencing ambient temperatures of 22°C, 29°C, or 35°C and noise levels of either 55 dB(A) or 95 dB(A). Performance decrements associated with high noise levels and high ambient temperatures were additive for the subsidiary task. Neither noise nor heat stress affected performance on the primary task. Results are interpreted in terms of an overload framework.