August 25, 2017

expert reaction to reports of an alleged ‘acoustic attack’ on US embassy staff in cuba

Experts react to the reports of an alleged ‘acoustic attack’ at the US embassy in Cuba.

Prof Andrew King, Professor of Neurophysiology, University of Oxford, said:

“Infrasound – low frequency sounds that lie below the human audible frequency range – might have been used, particularly as they can travel through the body more easily than very high frequencies. They would not then be heard by the people in the embassy. These sounds could, however, stimulate the part of the inner ear that deals with balance, potentially leading to dizziness and making people feel sick. Research has suggested that short exposure to perceptually unobtrusive (i.e. audible but not distracting) low frequency sounds can, at least temporarily, disrupt the way the ear responds to quiet sounds. Various types of industrial machinery, such as wind turbines, can generate infrasound, although it’s worth highlighting that recent research have failed to show clear evidence for any association between turbine noise exposure and symptoms like tinnitus, vertigo, or headache.”

Declared interests

Prof Andrew King: No conflicts of interest.