Complex mental tasks

According to the limited number of research on the effect of noise on complex cognitive tasks, the performance of complex mental and memory tasks is significantly worsened in the presence of office noise (with or without speech) when compared to performance in silence. Background noise seems to be a source of distraction for complex mental tasks.

However, research on the effects of environment on studying showed a different picture. 

As many parents are aware, different children may prefer different study environments. Further more, background music or noise does not seem to affect academic achievement in some people. An individual may prefer complete silence, while others may actually work better with background music or noise.

Personality type and background noise

Research suggests that tolerance and preference for noise levels differ among introverts and extroverts. Introverts show a lower optimum arousal threshold and need little stimulation before passing their optimum functioning level. Extroverts, on the other hand, have higher optimum arousal thresholds and tend to seek arousal or stimulating situations.

These personality types have nothing to do with ability or intelligence. These terms merely describe the way that different people function.

Studies have shown that extroverts actually perform better with noise distractions than working in silence, while introverts show a deficit in performance. When 123 medical students performed arithmetic tests in a quiet environment of 42 dB(A) and in noisy laboratory conditions with recorded traffic noise at 88 dB(A), the extroverts among them performed significantly faster while the introverts experienced concentration problems and fatigue in the noisy environment.

Another study examined the effects of the presence of an operating television on introverts and extroverts while they completed reading comprehension tasks. The introverts and extroverts performed equally well with the television off, but the extroverts performed better when the television was on.

A different study found that although extroverts reported working with music twice as often as introverts (50% compare to 25% of the time), both groups preferred very soft background music. It was also shown that the performance of introverts was affected only when noise exceeded their optimum levels.

Research on study environments shows that one's study environment should be individualized. Introverted students can experience more difficulty understanding what they are reading in a noisy environment. Meanwhile, those who can tune out distractions seem to thrive listening to their CD players and reading “Othello.”

Does music enhance learning?

Studies show that music distracts from complex mental works. But music that is not too loud or stressful enhances the learning of new skills and routines and the creative process.

Researchers suggest that music enhance learning because it is involved with the entire brain, including areas associated with creativity and social skills activities. Others suggest that the brain pays more attention to emotionally charged information. When the learning process is connected to the emotions of the music, it is better encoded and remembered. Or perhaps music promotes the release of brain chemicals important to learning.

In general, music that has 40-50 beats per minute and that slows down gradually has a calming and relaxing effect. But music with 100-160 beats per minute seems to boost energy level. Music beneficial for physical exercise and sports training are usually in this range. Slower, minor key music tends to encourage cortical and limbic alertness, while faster, major key music seems to improve moods.

However, researchers caution that music preference is highly personal, and selection may have different outcome for different people.