Introduction

Referred to as a consistent sound encompassing all frequencies within a human’s hearing range, white noise has recently garnered attention in both pop culture and research. White noise has often been associated with its effects on masking disruptive noises and sounds as well as aiding sleep. However, its impact on our cognitive performance and working memory is nuanced and requires a deeper understanding. This article aims to dive into the influence white noise has on our cognitive performance and working memory. This article may refer to cognitive performance as a range of mental processes, including attention, problem-solving, and learning and working memory as a subset of cognitive function, which focuses on the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods. This type of memory is crucial for tasks such as reasoning, comprehension, and complex cognitive tasks (Cowan, 2013; Tavares et al., 2023).

Understanding white noise

To define it, white noise has a uniformed sound spectrum wherein all audible frequencies’ intensities are equal – similar to the phenomenon of white light where all colors of the rainbow converge. White noise thus has consistency, and this is thought to mask other sounds, reduce the effects of distractors and create an environment that is more conducive to focus and relax in (Ghasemi et al., 2023). 

The Benefits of White Noise

It has been suggested that white noise can be beneficial when one is in an environment that has background noise which is found to disrupt concentration. For example, according to Egeland et al. (2023), white noise was found to improve the performance of individuals when it came to attention-related tasks in noisy environments and settings. This is due to white noise’s ability to mask other distracting sounds due to its nature of being a combination of all the sound frequencies humans hear. This introduces stability in one’s auditory experience which leads to an enhancement in their ability to focus on complex tasks. 

This white noise effect of masking noise relates closely to the studies on sleep. Research today has found that parents and caregivers are utilizing white noise machines to aid young children during rest and sleep times (De Jong et al., 2024). This finding is also consistent into adulthood if individuals experience sleep disruptions associated with elevated noise levels which are prevalent in metropolitan areas. Thus, we see that white noise may aid in helping individuals sleep throughout their lifespan. 

Recent research has also found that, through neuroimaging, dopamine – specifically phasic dopamine – may work together with white noise to affect cognitive performance. Based on an analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, it has been found that white noise can increase brain activity in the areas in charge of dopamine production (e.g., substantia nigra) and increase connectivity between those areas and the temporal lobe – specifically the superior temporal sulcus (in charge of speech production). These findings can thus lead us to the suggestion that white noise may enhance phasic dopamine release and increase brain activity leading to increased memory formation and heightened attention (Angwin et al., 2017). 

There have also been suggestions that white noise may positively affect working memory in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In recent years, research has increasingly suggested that ADHD is related to a state of reduced brain arousal (Clarke et al., 2020). These lowered levels of arousal may lead to individuals exhibiting behaviors that act as compensation – for example, being inconsistent when responding during tasks that take a long time to complete. With white noise blanketing other distractors, heightening brain activity levels and increasing dopamine production, individuals with ADHD may then be able to concentrate on tasks better.

Conclusion

The impact white noise has on cognitive performance and working memory is complex and there will be more developments as research goes on. The consistency white noise provides enables it to mask disruptive environmental noise and form a stable auditory state that can help in concentration. White noise can also increase activity in certain brain regions and increase dopamine production, which can lead to improved performances in attention-related tasks.  Moreover, if we investigate specific groups of individuals, such as those with ADHD, white noise’s impact extends and provides these individuals with regulation of arousal levels. This can aid them in enhancing their productivity levels and cognitive functioning in contexts where heightened states of arousal are beneficial. 

Despite this, it is to be noted that these findings are not fixed, and the effects of white noise are not always positive. The potential negative effects of white noise ought to be discovered and highlighted in future research. This will let us gain an objective understanding of white noise’s overall impact on cognition.

 

Written By:

Cassandra Selvan

Singapore University of Social Sciences

 

References:

Angwin, A. J., Wilson, W. J., Arnott, W. L., Signorini, A., Barry, R. J. & Copland, D. A. (2017). White noise enhances new-word learning in healthy adults. Scientific Reports, 7(13045). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13383-3 

Clarke, A. R., Barry, R. & Johnstone, S. (2020). Resting state EEG power research in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A review update. Clinical Neurophysiology, 131(7). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2020.03.029  

Cowan, N. (2013). Working memory underpins cognitive development, learning, and education. Educational Psychology Review, 26(2), 197-223. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10648-013-9246-y 

De Jong, R. W., Davis, G. S., Chelf, C. J., Marinelli, J. P., Erbele, I. D. & Bowe, S. N. (2024). Continuous white noise exposure during sleep and childhood development: A scoping review. Sleep Medicine, 119, 88-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2024.04.006 

Egeland, J., Lund, O., Kowalik-Gran, I., Aarlien, A. K. & Soderlund, G. B. W. (2023). Effects of auditory white noise stimulation on sustained attention and response time variability. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1301771 

Ghasemi, S., Fasih-Ramandi, F., Monazzam, M. R. & Khodakarim, S. (2023). White noise and its potential applications in occupational health: A review. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 52(3), 488-499. https://doi.org/10.18502%2Fijph.v52i3.12132 

Tavares, V. D. O., Rossell, S. L., Scuch, F. B., Herring, M., de Sousa, G. M., Galvao-Coelho, N. L. & Hallgren, M. (2023). Effects of exercise on cognitive functioning in adults with serious mental illness: A meta analytic review. Psychiatry Research, 321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115081