Assessing the effect of construction noise frequency on mental workload of construction workers with varying task difficulty using EEG data

Abstract

Noise pollution is a critical concern on construction sites because it adversely affects the cognitive performance of workers. While prior research has explored the effect of construction noise on workers’ cognitive performance, gaps remain in understanding how these effects change under varying task difficulty and noise frequency. To address this limitation, this study investigates the combined effects of construction noise frequency and task difficulty on mental workload using EEG. To this end, a 3-level N-back memory task was conducted under three noise conditions while EEG data of participants was recorded simultaneously. Furthermore, behavioral and subjective data were collected. This study found that low-frequency noise has a more negative impact on mental workload. The frontal and left occipital-parietal brain regions show more responses to changes in mental workload. This study is expected to help in the development of mental workload assessment models and construction noise regulations for safety interventions.