Effects of different broadband and amplitude modulated noises on cognitive performances

Noise is a pervasive feature of everyday environments that can influence cognitive performance in both detrimental and beneficial ways. These apparently contrasting effects may depend on the interplay between acoustic structure and task-specific cognitive demands. This study compared how various types of noise may influence specific cognitive functions. Participants completed cognitive tasks under six different acoustic conditions: silence, white, pink, sharp, fluctuating and rough noise. Cognitive tasks measured selective attention (Attention Matrices), visuospatial memory maintenance and manipulation (forward and backward Corsi), executive functions and attentional resources (backward counting). The results showed that selective attention improved with continuous white and sharpness-filtered noise compared to silence, whereas fluctuating noise reduced performance on selective attention and visuospatial short-term maintenance. Rough noise impaired visuospatial short-term manipulation, while backward counting was not affected by noise types. Therefore, the different types of noise exerted a selective influence on cognitive performance.