Forty-three (30 male and 13 female) subjects were exposed to traffic noise of ca. 72dB. Their reactions concerning blood pressure, pulse pressure, finger pulse amplitude and radialis pulse amplitude, heart rate, breathing rate, and integrated EMG were analyzed. 2. Each of the circulatory parameters exhibited significant reactions in either direction in more than 40% of the subjects. The vasoconstrictive reaction in finger pulse amplitude was most outstanding. Moreover, pulse pressure, radioalis pulse amplitude and, heart rate also tended to decrease whereas diastolic blood pressure tended to increase. Breathing rate and EMG remained mainly unchanged. 3. Owing to the different direction of reactions the mean values of a sample can yield possible misleading information. Furthermore, it is suggested that the reaction of finger pulse amplitude should be related to the standard deviation of the prestimulus resting period instead of to the mean value of this period. 4. Male subjects react with a stronger decrease of heart rate than female subjects. Male subjects with higher diastolic casual blood pressure and heart rate values exhibit stronger decreases in finger pulse amplitude and heart rate. Older male subjects tend to react with an increase of heart rate. 5. Within the male subjects, the reaction of finger pulse amplitude correlated positively with the reactions of pulse pressure and heart rate, but not with the reaction of radialis pulse amplitude. The attempt to distinguish between vasoactive and pressure-dependent components in finger pulse amplitude means of radialis pulse amplitude failed, which is probably a consequence of artifacts in radialis pulse amplitude.
