Demonstration of colored noise on brainwave activity during reading tasks: An electroencephalogram study

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of different types of colored noise on brainwave activity during reading task, with a unique intent to use this research as a practical demonstration for the participant to learn about acoustics. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data from 29 participants were obtained and analyzed to assess brainwave activity across all channels when exposed to these colored noises. After brainwave recording process, participants were invited to view their recorded individual brainwave activities and topo mapping, so that they could learn the different colored noises might affecting their brainwave responses. The study found that most of the participants are interested to learn more about how the colored noise affects their daily activity. Besides demonstration to get participants interested in learning noise effects on brainwave activity, our brainwave study revealed that pink noise significantly influenced theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta, and high beta frequencies during the reading tasks. In comparison, white noise had a notable impact on low and high alpha frequencies, while brown noise yielded significant changes in theta brainwave activity. This research points out that colored noise, could alter brainwave activity. It is potentially affecting cognitive engagement such as alertness and focus. By involving different major students as participants, we demonstrated the tangible effects of acoustics on cognitive functions, fostering a more profound understanding of the subject matter.