Mice, rats, and guinea pigs were exposed daily to high intensity noise in the frequency range of 150–4800 cps at a sound pressure level of about 140 db,re0.0002 μbar. It was found that the behavioral and endocrine responses differ in the three species studied. The adrenal response of animals exposed to noise supports the interpretation that noise acts as a physiological stress, but does not induce harmful extra‐auditory effects. Thus, the endocrine system appears to act as a multiloop feed‐back system which compensates for the effects of noise on the central nervous system.