[Level of anxiety and effects of moderate noise on early auditory evoked potentials].

Thirty men and 30 women, 20-25 years old, and selected for presence or absence of anxiety were exposed successively for 15 min to four different noises at the same continuous equivalent level LAeq = 75 dB. Auditory brainstem evoked potentials were recorded before and after exposure to each noise. No difference was found between these noises as to their effects upon evoked potentials. After exposure to noise a significant lengthening of L1, L3 and L5 latencies was observed in men; in women a significant lengthening of L3 and L5 latencies was also present. At the same time, I-V and III-V intervals were significantly increased, without any sex-linked difference, and without any change in I-III interval. L3 and L5 latencies are significantly longer in men than in women; lengthening by noise of L1 and L3 latencies was found significantly longer in men than in women; lengthening by noise of I-V interval was found significantly more important in anxious subjects, without any sex-linked difference. L3 lengthening was also found significantly longer in anxious men than in anxiety-free ones.