Steady State Noise and Music and Vigilance

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Abstract
Human subjects [Ss] were tested twice on a 1-h visual vigilance task. Ss (6) first performed the test accompanied by continuous white noise presented at 72 dB. The 2nd time they performed the test it was accompanied by music, presented at a level previously calibrated to give an average integrated output, over 1 h, of 72 dB. A further 6 Ss performed the 2 tests in the reverse order. Performance was analyzed into hits and false alarms at 3 levels of confidence for report. Although raw score performance did not differ between conditions, a signal detection theory analysis showed that discriminability was higher in white noise than music. The setting of the cautious criterion showed an interaction between noise conditions and time on task.