Broadband Sound and Sleep

Study on the Use of Broadband Sound to Mitigate Sleep Disruption Due to Aircraft Noise

Sound insulation of bedrooms is expensive and typically only granted to residents living close to the airport. We plan to investigate the effects of various aviation noises on sleep under controlled laboratory conditions and to investigate whether some of the sleep disturbing effects can be mitigated by introducing broadband noise into the bedroom or by wearing earplugs.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Noise Exposure
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); Other: Control Night (CTRL)

Detailed Description

The Federal Aviation Administration is interested in investigating inexpensive yet effective methods to mitigate the adverse effects of aviation noise on sleep. The sleep of up to 28 subjects will be monitored with polysomnography and actigraphy over 7 consecutive nights in groups of 4 exposed to various sound conditions (aviation noise; broadband noise; aviation noise plus earplugs; aviation noise plus broadband noise at various decibel [dB] levels). Subjects will fill out surveys, perform cognitive tasks and a hearing test before and after each sleep period. The study will be performed in the Chronobiology Isolation Laboratory (CIL) in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. This newly constructed facility includes 4 acoustically isolated bedrooms and a high-fidelity sound system. Eligible subjects are age 21-50, free of psychiatric conditions that preclude participation, and maintain a self-reported regular sleep schedule of 6-8.5 hours per night as verified by six days of ambulatory actigraphy and daily logs.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 28
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sierra Park-Chavar, BA; Phone Number: 215-573-5855; Email: sierrap@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, MSc; Phone Number: 215-573-5866; Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • Recruiting
      • University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
      • Contact: Mathias Basner, MD, PhD; Phone Number: 215-573-5866; Email: basner@pennmedicine.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Mathias Basner, MD, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult subjects between 21-50 years old
• Free of psychological/psychiatric conditions that preclude participation.
• BMI between 18.5 and 35.
• Self-reported regular sleep schedule; able to maintain their sleep schedule during the course of the study.
• Self-reported sleep duration of 6-8.5 h per night (verified by ambulatory sleep monitoring with wrist actigraphy and daily logs).
• Ability to read/write English.
• Fully vaccinated for or recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects habitually use broadband noise (e.g. white noise machines) to promote sleep at home.
• Hearing loss greater than 25 dB in any frequency band up to 8 kilohertz (kHz).
• History of neurological, psychiatric, or other medical condition that excludes participation.
• Current mania or psychosis.
• Current depression as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory with a score of 17 or greater (Beck, 1996).
• Alcohol or drug abuse in the past year based upon history and urine toxicology screen.
• Excessive alcohol intake (above 21 drinks per week) or binge alcohol consumption (5 or more drinks per day).
• Excessive caffeine consumption (above 650mg/day combining all caffeinated drinks regularly absorbed during the day).
• Current smoker/tobacco user, or using nicotine replacement therapy. Those that have been nicotine-free for 30 days will be included.
• Body Mass Index at or below 18.5 or at or above 35.
• Acute, chronic, or debilitating medical conditions, major Axis I psychiatric illness based on history, physical exam, blood and urine chemistries, and complete blood count (CBC).
• Individuals who self-report a history of recurrent seizures or epilepsy or have a history of medical conditions that could increase the chance of seizures (e.g. stroke, aneurysm, brain surgery, structural brain lesion).
• Cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, or musculoskeletal problems that exclude participation.
• Major controlled or uncontrolled medical condition such as congestive heart failure, neuromuscular disease, renal failure, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory failure or insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, or patients requiring oxygen therapy (as determined by self-report).
• Currently working night, swing, split or rotating shift.
• Current use or use of within the past month of a prescription or over-the-counter sleep medication or stimulant; use of psychoactive medication (based on self-report and review with a study clinician).
• Pregnant or currently breast feeding.
• Prior history or diagnosis of any sleep disorder including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (AHI at or above 15 events/hour) from ambulatory or in lab polysomnography; Restless legs syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder; Insomnia; Parasomnia; High Risk of OSA based on Stop-Bang Questionnaire (yes on at least 4 of 8 questions); High Risk of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) based on Cambridge-Hopkins Screening questionnaire; High Risk of Insomnia based on Insomnia Severity Index (score of 22 or higher).
• Individuals who self-report severe contact dermatitis or allergy to silicone, nickel or silver.
• Planned travel across more than one time zone one month prior to and/or during the anticipated period of the study.
• Intentional naps during the week.
• Positive COVID-19 test at prescreening.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1: A B C D E F; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: A B C D E F	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.
Experimental: Group 2: B D A F C E; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: B D A F C E	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.
Experimental: Group 3: C A E B F D; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: C A E B F D	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.
Experimental: Group 4: D F B E A C; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: D F B E A C	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.
Experimental: Group 5: E C F A D B; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: E C F A D B	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.
Experimental: Group 6: F E D C B A; Subjects will be exposed to six different conditions during a sleep period from 2300-0700. All subjects will experience all six conditions in a randomized and balanced fashion. Conditions #1-6 will be randomly assigned to letters A-F. After an adaptation night with no interventions on Night 1, subjects will receive the following exposure sequence on Nights 2-7: F E D C B A	Other: Aviation Noise Only (AN); The aviation noise (AN) night will expose subjects to a pre-programmed recording of aviation noise during sleep from 2300-0700.; Other: Pink noise, 50 dBA only (BN50); The BN50 night will consist of exposure to continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA).; Other: Aviation noise plus earplugs (AN+EP); The AN + EP night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of wearing earplugs overnight.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 40 dBA (AN+BN40); The AN + BN40 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 40 dBA.; Other: Aviation noise plus white noise 50 dBA (AN+BN50); The AN + BN50 night will consist of the aviation noise (AN) exposure with the addition of continuous pink noise throughout the sleep period at a level of 50 dBA.; Other: Control Night (CTRL); Control night (CTRL) without noise exposure and without earplugs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time Spent in Sleep Stages N3 & Rapid Eye Movement (REM)	Time spent in sleep stages N3 and REM	Days 2-7

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cognition Test Battery Performance	Accuracy, speed and efficiency across cognitive domains using a test battery containing 10 cognitive tasks	Days 1-7
Driving Simulator Performance	Standard deviation in lane drift and speed in a computerized driving simulation	Days 1-7
Hearing Test Threshold Shift	Hearing test threshold shifts in dB at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, 6,000 Hz, and 8,000 Hz	Days 1-7

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Collaborators: Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, MSc, University of Pennsylvania

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, Buxton OM, Buysse D, Dinges DF, Gangwisch J, Grandner MA, Kushida C, Malhotra RK, Martin JL, Patel SR, Quan SF, Tasali E. Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep. 2015 Jun 1;38(6):843-4. doi: 10.5665/sleep.4716.
• Huang HW, Zheng BL, Jiang L, Lin ZT, Zhang GB, Shen L, Xi XM. Effect of oral melatonin and wearing earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep in healthy subjects in a simulated intensive care unit environment: which might be a more promising strategy for ICU sleep deprivation? Crit Care. 2015 Mar 19;19(1):124. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-0842-8.
• Riedy SM, Smith MG, Rocha S, Basner M. Noise as a sleep aid: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2021 Feb;55:101385. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101385. Epub 2020 Sep 9.
• Basner M, McGuire S. WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Mar 14;15(3):519. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15030519.
• Basner M, Babisch W, Davis A, Brink M, Clark C, Janssen S, Stansfeld S. Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. Lancet. 2014 Apr 12;383(9925):1325-1332. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61613-X. Epub 2013 Oct 30.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 13, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 7, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 8, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 7, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Sleep; Cognitive Performance
• Other Study ID Numbers: 852479

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Public project data files will be available via the National Transportation Library (NTL). Personally Identifiable Information (PII) will not be publicly available. Sensitive data that cannot be de-identified will be posted to secure government databases, such as posting of genetic sequence data in NIH's database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGAP) (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap/), where appropriate and in accordance with institutional review board (IRB) guidance and federal regulations.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data files will be available one year after the project end date.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: People requesting the data will have to fulfill the access criteria set by the respective database.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No