The present state of research on the effects of noise: are we asking the right questions?

A review is presented, with a bibliography of 68 items, of some effects and aftereffects of noise on other senses and on intelligence, on performance on multiple tasks, memory, computation, vigilance, signal detection, reaction time, and on industrial performance. Throughout this literature contradictions abound. Mechanisms reviewed include distraction, arousal, stress, concentration, masking of task-produced feedback, erasure of auditory store, and interference with or inhibition of articulation and rehearsal. It was concluded that it is necessary to consider complex interactions of the effects of noise with task difficulty and task proficiency of the subject, personality of the subject, time of day, food and drug ingestion, and the meaning of the noise and the previous exposure of the subject to it, whether it represents a threat or interference with work or reaction, or is in fact interesting and enjoyable. Such information must be available before generalizing.