The relationship between noise and mode of delivery on recognition memory and working memory

- In-cabin aircraft noise is loud.
- Critical safety information is presented in the presence of this noise.
- Aircraft noise was found to affect recognition memory.
- Presenting target signals visually as opposed to aurally can reduce noise effects.

The present research sought to investigate the effect of noise, comparable to that experienced in an aircraft cabin, on cognitive performance in terms of working memory and recognition memory. In addition, and since advancements in technology have long permitted the exchange of information via various media, the present research also sought to investigate the effect of in-cabin aircraft noise on the medium in which the target signal is delivered. Thirty-two participants (19 female), half non-native English speakers with an average age of 21.84 years (SD = 3.16), and all with normal hearing were asked to complete four different memory tasks under two different experimental factors. The first independent variable was noise, with two conditions: no noise versus wideband noise at 80 dBA. The second independent variable was mode of presentation, with two conditions: target signal presented aurally or visually. With the presentation of stimuli presented in a counterbalanced order, the results from a series of mixed repeated measures analyses revealed that working memory appears largely immune from the effects of wideband noise at 80 dBA. In contrast, recognition memory is most vulnerable to the effects of this noise. In terms of mode of delivery, presenting the target signal visually improves recall performance on the recognition memory task and two of the three working memory tasks (not the linguistics working memory task). Also noise had a greater effect on non-native English speakers on the recognition memory task. These results highlight the varying effect of noise on memory, and the benefits of considering alternate methods of presenting information in noisy settings, such as aviation.