Effect of traffic noise on mental performance with regard to introversion and task complexity

Abstract

PurposeTraffic noise can impair mental performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of traffic noise on the participants' mental performance. MethodsThirty-five male students participated in this study. The Eysenck questionnaire was used to assess personality traits (neuroticism and extraversion) of the subjects. The participants were exposed to both quiet and traffic noise conditions and performed “S3”-type choice reaction time (CRT) test as a simple task, and “S1”-type determine test as a complex task using the Vienna Test System software. ResultsThe results showed that, in simple task, the mean differences of motor time (p = .375) and reaction time (p = .316) were not statistically significant among stable/unstable individuals under quiet and under traffic noise conditions. In complex task, there was a significant difference in the number of correct response (p = .044) and incorrect response (p = .043) among stable/unstable individuals, while no such significant difference was found among other variables under study. None of the differences in the variables of simple and complex tests were statistically significant between introvert/extrovert under quiet and under traffic noise conditions (p > .05). ConclusionThis study revealed that traffic noise had no effect on the performance of introvert/extrovert individuals in simple and complex tasks.