Abstract
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of varying auditory interference and
personality on performance in a cognitive memory test whilst observing individual differences in
EEG, GSR and pulse rate readings. The effect of auditory interference on working memory
tasks is called the irrelevant sound effect. A quantitative within subjects design was employed to
assess the phenomenon of the irrelevant sound effect on free recall. Three separate presentations
of a list of twenty words per presentation were presented to each participant whilst auditory
intrusion was introduced during the display of the words and continued through the recall time.
The level of recall was then analysed. The participants were 30 employed people in Dublin,
Ireland from a sample of convenience and each participant completed The Big Five Taxonomy,
(John& Srivastava, 1999). Their scores on the personality questionnaire were analysed together
with their level of recall and EEG, GSR and Pulse rate readings. The results of this study did not
reveal the irrelevant sound effect on free recall, however other significant correlations were
found. Author keywords: Neurological, irrelevant sound effect, personality, EEG
