Jesper Alvarsson
PhD Student
Research
My area of interest is psycho-physiological reactions to sound environments. One fundamental differentiation can be made concerning environmental sounds, between wanted (positive sound) and unwanted sound (noise). Unwanted sounds have been the research focus for many years. The relatively new shift towards soundscape research where both wanted and unwanted aspects of sound environments are studied have opened the field to new possibilities.
Currently we are experimenting on how sound environment effects the possibility to rest efficiently. In this line we are using natural sound environments in comparison to environments dominated by noise. In collaboration with Institute of Environmental Medicine we are also investigating the effects of continuous indoor noise emitted from sources such as ventilation and appliances.
Experiments are the main methodology used both in laboratory and field settings. The Biopac system is used to measure electrophysiological reactions and Matlab is currently the program used for both experimental design and data analysis.
Publications
Alvarsson, J. J., Wiens, S., & Nilsson, M. E. (submitted). Stress Recovery during Exposure to Natural Sound and Environmental Noise. Manuscript submitted for publication to International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2009-12-01).
Nilsson, M. E., Alvarsson, J. J., Ekman, M. R., & Bolin, K. (submitted). Auditory Masking of Wanted and Unwanted Sounds in a City Park. Manuscript submitted for publication to Noise Control Engineering Journal (2009-08-31).
Conference presentations
Forssén, J., Kaczmarek, T., Alvarsson, J., Lundén P., & Nilsson, M. E. (2009, October). Auralization of traffic noise within the LISTEN project - Preliminary results for passenger car pass-by. Paper presented at the meeting EuroNoise 2009, Edinburgh, UK.
Nilsson, M. E., Alvarsson, J. J., Ekman, M. R., & Bolin, K. (2009, July). Loudness of fountain and road traffic sounds in a city park. Paper presented at the meeting 16th International Congress on Sound and Vibration, Krakow, Poland.
Alvarsson, J. J., Nilsson, M. E., & Wiens, S. (2009). Effects of Exposure to Natural Sounds and Environmental Noise on Physiological Stress Recovery. Psychophysiology, 46, S116-S116.
Personal background
Both my master and bachelor theses was presented at Stockholm University, I have also studied Psychology at Lund University, Entrepreneurship at Södertörn University College and Economics at Borås University College. Gender issues are also a great interest of mine. I have been working for RFSU with high and grade school students conducting seminars focused on, HBT, gender and sexuality. I believe there remains much to be done regarding these issues in Swedish universities and I hope to be a part of a movement towards greater equality at the Department of Psychology.
