Infrasound: A Natural Drug?

"Positive or Negative"

By: Michael W. Smith

Opening Statements: Infrasound is not an actual drug but an acoustic stimulant that triggers the production, or release, of natural chemicals in the brain of humans and all wildlife. Thus these natural chemicals create response and capability. Discussion of the "Positives" and "Negatives" refers to the positive or negative stimuli, or response, of these naturally occurring "drugs" due to the exposure of Infrasound. Infrasound generated by nature should be deemed a "Positive". Infrasound in its natural sense is an ingredient that plays an important role in maintaining balance and harmony in the existence of all life on earth. Infrasound generated by technology should in most cases be deemed a "Negative". Historically speaking, man has not been completely successful in any attempt to simulate nature or naturally occurring phenomenon. In the case of Infrasound, man has only just begun to research this natural phenomenon. Humanity has suffered the ill affects of man-made infrasound for many decades with the progression of consumer-based technology.

Brief Background: It is assumed that the reader has some knowledge of Infrasound thus a detailed technical description will not be offered in this document. In brief, Infrasound is the sound that is felt and not heard. Infrasound is pressure waves generated from low frequency audible sound. Low frequency audible sounds are generally low heavy bass tones. High Intensity / Low Frequency (HI/LF) bass tones has gained attention from regulating agencies in most industrialized settings. The higher intensity, and volume, of this type of audible sound increases the pressure waves of infrasound. Infrasound does not loose strength with distance and obstacles like audible sound thus will carry greater distances. Infrasound is more likely to affect more subjects than its originating low frequency audible sound.

Positives: Infrasound is nature’s way for several species of wildlife to communicate, catch prey, and defend against impeding danger. Infrasound triggers the "fight" or "flight" instinct in humans and wildlife. Some species are so reliant on infrasound that without its presence would render them completely dysfunctional and endangered. Naturally occurring infrasound is required to maintain the delicate balance of nature. Infrasound is actually an extremely important aspect of the fabric of life on earth.

Negatives: Defiance of the laws of nature will only result in disaster in any case. Abuse of any natural substance or natural phenomenon can only have harmful results. Many people have realized that excessive exposure to man-made infrasound can result in a natural high. When the human body is bombarded with high intensity infrasound the "fight" or "flight" reaction is triggered. Thus the brain produces stress hormones, adrenaline, and a natural pain killer. The body then experiences increased breathing and heart rate. Thus the natural high is more extensive. Excessive frequency of this behavior can only result in potential addiction. The most common means of generating excessive man-made infrasound is with amplified stereo equipment with subwoofer speakers played loudly. This capability is only enhanced with the use of specially programmed CD music that is tailored to generate maximum low frequency bass, thus generating maximum high intensity infrasound. The negative health impacts do not only damage the subjects hearing but internal organs are damaged at the cellular level due to the excessive total-body vibrations of the infrasound. The list of health and mental impacts are much greater than can be mentioned in this document concerning infrasound. People are taking this behavior to our streets in the form of Boom Cars thus impacting a greater number of victims. To further enhance the low frequency noise generated by Boom Car stereos those owners are now installing extremely loud aftermarket exhaust systems. This progressive activity is increasing at an alarming rate. At least one million new Boom Cars are hitting our streets a year. Tens of millions of innocent victims are exposed to harmful levels of man-made infrasound every day in America alone. This is a global problem thus the harmful affects of man-made infrasound is worldwide. The audio/music industry is now developing music that is intentionally laced with extra infrasound to create predefined sensations and moods. This is achieved by varying the transmission rates (hertz) to trigger other natural responses in the brain. The brain controls the entire body through transmission of electrical impulses at 7 to 8 hertz. If this transmission rate/sequence is hindered, or corrupted, in any way then immediate death could occur. An overdose of infrasound is no different to its victim than other drugs.

Can Infrasound be considered an addictive drug? YES!

Department of Acoustics - Aalborg University

Kerstin Persson Waye, S. Agge, A. Clow, F. Hucklebridge: "Cortisol response
and subjective sleep disturbance after low frequency noise exposure", To be
presented at The 8th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health
Problem, June 29 - July 3, 2003, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Johanna Bengtsson, Kerstin Persson Waye: "Is a "pleasant" low frequency
noise also less annoying?", To be presented at The 8th International
Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem, June 29 - July 3, 2003,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Wolfgang Ellermeier, Birgit Werner: "Role of short- term memory in loudness
comparisons", 145th Meeting of Acoustical Society of America, April 28 - May
2, 2003, Nashville, USA. Abstract in The Journal of the Acoustical Society
of America, Vol. 113, No. 4, Pt. 2 of 2, April 2003, p. 2292 (paper 4aPPb11)
.

Karin Zimmer, Oliver Baumann: "Direct scaling of sensations: Are subjects
able to produce consistent, and meaningful, numerical ratios?", Presented at
First ISCA Tutorials and Research Workshop on the Auditory Quality of
Systems, April 22-24, 2003, Mont Cenis, Germany.

Karen Reuter, Dorte Hammershøi: "OAE recovery after noise exposure",
Presented at DAGA 2003 - 29. Deutsche Jahrestagung für Akustik, March 18-20,
2003, Aachen, Germany.

Henrik Møller, Morten Lydolf: "A questionnaire survey of complaints of
infrasound and low-frequency noise", Journal of Low Frequency Noise,
Vibration and Active Control, Vol 21, No. 2, 2002, pp. 53-64.

Kerstin Persson Waye, Johanna Bengtsson: "Assessments of low frequency noise
complaints - a follow- up study 14 years later", Proceedings of 10th
International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration and its Control,
September 11-13, 2002, York, England, pp. 103-109.

Arturo O. Santillán, Morten Lydolf, Henrik Møller: "Low-frequency test
chamber with loudspeaker arrays for human exposure to simulated free-field
conditions", Proceedings of 10th International Meeting on Low Frequency
Noise and Vibration and its Control, September 11-13, 2002, York, England,
pp. 221-232.

Kerstin Persson Waye: "On the importance of regulating low frequency noise
on the "quiet" side of the building ", Proceedings of 10th International
Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration and its Control, September
11-13, 2002, York, England, pp. 285-293.
Wolfgang Ellermeier: "Effects of noise on short-term memory", Invited
lecture at the Institute of Cognitive Research, June 20, 2002, University of
Oldenburg, Germany. No written version.

Henrik Møller, Morten Lydolf (eds.): "Proceedings of the 9th International
Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration", May 17-19, 2000, Aalborg,
Denmark.

Henrik Møller, Morten Lydolf: "Complaints of infrasound and low-frequency
noise studied with questionnaires", In Henrik Møller, Morten Lydolf (eds.):
Proceedings of the 9th International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and
Vibration, May 17-19, 2000, Aalborg, Denmark, pp. 129-138.

Søren Krarup Olesen, Henrik Møller: "Distribution of low frequency sound
levels in rooms", Proceedings of the 1998 International Congress on Noise
Control Engineering, Inter-noise 98, November 16-18, 1998, Christchurch, New
Zealand, pp. 377-380.

Søren Krarup Olesen, Henrik Møller: "Sound pressure distribution in rooms at
low frequencies", Proceedings of NAM 98, Nordic Acoustical Meeting,
September 6-9, 1998, Stockholm, Sweden, ISSN 0346 - 5918, ISRN KTH - BYT/R -
98/176 - SE, pp. 81-84.

Henrik Møller: "Studies on low frequency noise", Invited lecture to the Low
Frequency Noise Subcommittee of Japan Institute of Noise Control Engineering
(INCE), October 31, 1997, at General head office of Tobishima Corporation
Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. No written version.

Morten Lydolf, Henrik Møller: "New measurements of the threshold of hearing
and equal loudness level contours at low frequencies", Proceedings of the
8th International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, June 3-5,
1997, Gothenburg, Sweden, pp. 76-84.

Henrik Møller, Morten Lydolf: "On the use of A-weighted levels for
prediction of loudness level", Proceedings of the 8th International Meeting
on Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, June 3-5, 1997, Gothenburg, Sweden, pp.
197-206.

Morten Lydolf, Peder Christian Frandsen, Henrik Møller: "Low frequency
hearing threshold and equal loudness contours", Proceedings of Nordic
Acoustical Meeting, NAM '96, Helsinki, Finland, June 12-14, 1996, ISBN
951-22-3134-4, pp. 253-258.

Henrik Møller: "On the use of A-weighted levels to describe low frequency
noise", Workshop on Assessing and Controlling Community Noise with Low
Frequency Components, Copenhagen, December 18, 1995. Written version in:
TemaNord 1996:607 Environment Nordic Council of Ministers, ISBN 92 9120
9503, ISSN 0908-6692, Copenhagen 1996, Appendix 1, pp. 1-28.

Henrik Møller: "Comments to: Infrasounds in residential area - a case
study", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 13, No. 4, 1994.
Toshio Watanabe, Henrik Møller: "Low frequency hearing thresholds in
pressure field and in free field", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and
Vibration, Vol. 9, No. 3, 1990, pp. 106-115.

Bogdan Cherek, Bjarne Langvad: "Low frequency simulation of a listening
room", Proceedings of Nordic Acoustical Meeting, NAM '90, Luleå, Sweden,
June 11-13, 1990, pp. 265-270.

Henrik Møller: "Annoyance of audible infrasound", Journal of Low Frequency
Noise and Vibration, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1987, pp. 1-17.

Henrik Møller: "Annoyance from low frequency and infrasonic noise",
Proceedings of Nordic Acoustical Meeting, NAM '86, Aalborg, Denmark, August
20-22, 1986, ISBN 87-7307-341-5, pp. 147-152.

Henrik Møller: "Annoyance from audible infrasound", Invited paper, 110th
Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Nashville, Tennessee, November
4-8, 1985. Abstract in Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol.
78, Suppl. 1, p. S32 (paper O-4).

Henrik Møller: "Annoyance from audible infrasound", Proceedings of the 3rd
International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, London,
September 12-13, 1985, pp. 3.1.1-3.1.12.

Henrik Møller: "Chairmans Report on Discussion of ISO/DIS 7196, "Acoustics -
Methods for describing infrasound" at Internoise '84, Honolulu, Hawaii,
December 3-5, 1984", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 4,
No. 1, 1985, pp. 34-36.

Henrik Møller, Peter Henningsen Nielsen, Jente Andresen: "Annoyance from
infrasound - alone and in combination with audio frequency noise", Invited
paper, Proceedings of International Conference on Noise Control Engineering,
Internoise '84, Honolulu, December 3-5, 1984, pp. 911-916.

Henrik Møller: "Equal annoyance contours for infrasonic frequencies",
Proceedings of 4th Congress of the Federation of Acoustical Societies of
Europe, FASE '84, Sandefjord, August 21-24, 1984, ISBN 82-595-3646-3, pp.
369-372.

Peter Henningsen Nielsen: "Effect of infrasound on performance in a complex
task", Proceedings of 4th Congress of the Federation of Acoustical Societies
of Europe, FASE '84, Sandefjord, August 21-24, 1984, ISBN 82-595-3646-3, pp.
365-368.

Henrik Møller: "Effects of infrasound on man. A monograph of research
carried out at Aalborg University", Ph. D. thesis, Aalborg University,
Denmark, ISBN 87-7307-285-0, April 1984.

Jente Andresen, Henrik Møller: "Equal annoyance contours for infrasonic
frequencies", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 3, No. 3,
1984, pp. 1-8.

Henrik Møller, Jente Andresen: "Loudness of pure tones at low and infrasonic
frequencies", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 3, No. 2,
1984, pp. 78-87.

Henrik Møller: "Physiological and psychological effects of infrasound on
humans", Institut for Elektroniske Systemer, Report R 84-5, February 1984.

Henrik Møller: "Physiological and psychological effects of infrasound on
humans", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1984,
pp. 1-17.

Jente Andresen, Henrik Møller: "Annoyance of infrasound", Proceedings of
International Conference on Noise Control Engineering, Internoise '83,
Edinburgh, July 13-15, 1983, pp. 819-822.

Henrik Møller, Jente Andresen: "Loudness of infrasound", Proceedings of
International Conference on Noise Control Engineering, Internoise '83,
Edinburgh, July 13-15, 1983, pp. 815-818.

Henrik Møller: "Construction of a test chamber for human infrasound
exposure", Journal of Low Frequency Noise and Vibration, Vol. 1, No. 3,
1982, pp. 123-134.

Henrik Møller: "Infrasound as an environmental problem. Part IV. Analysis of
heart rate during infrasound exposure (in Danish)", Institut for
Elektroniske Systemer, Report R 82-1, February 1982.

Bjarne Kirk, Henrik Møller: "Loudness and annoyance of infrasound",
Proceedings of International Conference on Noise Control Engineering,
Internoise '81, Amsterdam, October 6-8, 1981, pp. 761-764.

Henrik Møller: "Effects of infrasound on man", Invited paper, Proceedings of
International Conference on Noise Control Engineering, Internoise '81,
Amsterdam, October 6-8, 1981, pp. 747-750.

Henrik Møller: "Infrasound as an environmental problem. Part III. Analysis
of results from experiments carried out 1978-79 (in Danish)", Institut for
Elektroniske Systemer, Report R 81-3, July 1981.

Henrik Møller: "The influence of low frequency and infrasonic noise on man",
In: N. Merle Peterson (editor): The question of sound from icebreaker
operations: The Proceedings of a workshop, Toronto, Ontario, February 23-24,
1981, pp. 310-319.
H. G. Leventhall, Henrik Møller, Per Rubak (eds.): "Panel discussion
Conference of Low Frequency Noise and Hearing", Aalborg, Denmark, May 7-9,
1980, ISBN 87-7307-061-0.

Henrik Møller, Per Rubak (eds.): "Proceedings of Conference on Low Frequency
Noise and Hearing", Aalborg, Denmark, May 7-9, 1980, ISBN 87-7307-061-0.

Henrik Møller: "The influence of infrasound on task performance",
Proceedings of Conference on Low Frequency Noise and Hearing, Aalborg,
Denmark, May 7-9, 1980, ISBN 87-73047-061-0, pp. 85-94.

Henrik Møller: "Infrasound project at the University Centre of Aalborg",
Institute of Acoustics' Meeting on Low Frequency Noise, Chelsea College,
London, January 5, 1979.