Acute Effects of Steady-State Generator and Intermittent Traffic Noise on Attention and Short-Term Memory in Nigerian University Students: A Counterbalanced Experimental Study.
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Objective: This study examined the acute effects of steady-state and intermittent noise on attention and short-term memory among Nigerian university students.
Methods: A counterbalanced within-subjects experimental design was employed with 40 undergraduate students from UNILORIN, who were exposed to three conditions: quiet control (~35 dB[A]), steady-state noise, and intermittent noise, all calibrated at 70 dB(A). Attention was assessed using the Letter Cancellation Test (LCT), while short-term memory was measured using immediate free recall of ten semantically unrelated words. Linear mixed-effects models adjusting for individual and session-level covariates were applied, with supplementary repeated-measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance).
Results: Linear mixed-effects models showed no significant deleterious effects of steady-state or intermittent noise on attention or short-term memory compared with the quiet condition. Supplementary repeated-measures ANOVA identified statistical differences in attention scores, but these effects were small and attenuated after covariate adjustment. Stress emerged as a significant negative predictor of both cognitive outcomes, while noise sensitivity showed a positive association with attentional performance. These findings suggest habituation or arousal-related resilience to noise exposure, with stress exerting a stronger influence on cognitive performance than noise itself.
Conclusion: Acute exposure to generator and traffic noise at 70 dB(A) does not significantly impair attention or memory among Nigerian university students. Interventions targeting stress reduction may offer greater cognitive benefits than short-term noise control alone.
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