Human Perception of Environmental Sounds Volume II

Building on the first volume, this second volume of the Human Perception of Environmental Sounds series aims to further expand this field of research.The study of human perception of environmental sounds has emerged as an interdisciplinary field bridging environmental psychology, acoustics, urban studies, design, and cognitive science. Environmental sounds are essential elements of everyday experience, encasing meanings, setting context, and providing the cues necessary for situational awareness. Research has traditionally framed ambient sounds in terms of their negative effects, most frequently addressing the problem of noise pollution and its deleterious impact on health and well-being. Recent studies, however, highlight the dual nature of environmental sounds, demonstrating their capacity to not only disrupt but also enrich activities, influence behaviors, and promote positive emotions, thereby contributing to well-being and overall quality of life. Despite rising interest, significant gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms by which sounds interact with the physical and social context to shape perception and behavior, as well as the impact of designed sound environments, such as urban music installations or personal listening devices, on individual and communal experience. Current research has begun to move beyond traditional noise-centric models, examining soundscapes as mediators of social life, yet there is a need for more comprehensive models and rigorous methodologies to account for the full spectrum of perceptual outcomes.This Research Topic aims to expand on the knowledge surrounding the perception and impact of environmental sounds, particularly in the context of urban environments. It seeks to clarify the relationships between environmental sounds whether incidental, designed, or technologically mediated and their perceptual, psychological, and physiological effects on individuals and groups. Key objectives include elucidating the dynamic interactions between people and soundscapes, exploring factors that modulate positive and negative outcomes, and advancing theoretical and methodological approaches for the study of complex acoustic environments. The Research Topic also aims to encourage the development and assessment of models that capture the fluid interplay between human listeners and their ever-changing sonic surroundings, including the impact of personalization technologies and the integration of music within public spaces.To gather further insights into the characterization, perception, management, and design implications of environmental sounds and soundscapes, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Perceptual mechanisms linking environmental sounds to context and behavior• Psychological and physiological impacts of soundscapes in urban and communal spaces• Technological mediation of acoustic experience, including personal audio devices and sound installations• Methodological advances and psychometrics for objective and subjective soundscape data• Theoretical models describing dynamic human–sound interactions• Implications for urban design, sound management, and policyThis second volume is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Bert De Coensel, who was a Topic Editor for the first volume. We are grateful for his contribution to that collection and remember him warmly. Topic editors: Francesco Aletta, PerMagnus Lindborg Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84076/human-perception-of-environmental-sounds-volume-ii