Empirical study on the effect of single insect sounds on human perception based on pressure and engagement indicators

The chirping of insects is an important component of the soundscape in forest parks and has significant physiological effects on human perception. In this study, utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to analyze the responses of 30 university students to the sounds of six types of insects in a northeastern forest park. The results indicated that the physical parameters of the sounds of a single insect, such as the frequency (T6. α2: p = 0.046) and amplitude (T5. α2: p = 0.041), can reduce perceived stress and promote relaxation. However, regression statistical data showed that as the frequency and amplitude of insect chirps increased, people's engagement in work decreased (T4.β2/(α1 + θ): p = 0.049, T4.β2/(α2 + θ): p = 0.016), and their attention to work was distracted (T4.β1/α2: p = 0.004, p = 0.003). Additionally, demographic characteristics such as sex, educational level, and living environment also impacted the perception of sounds. Males, undergraduates, and rural residents were more sensitive to these auditory stimuli than females, postgraduates, and urban residents.