Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Auditory Ossicles

The Auditory Ossicles

The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two malleus (hammer) bones, two incus (anvil) bones, and two stapes (stirrups), one on each side. These bones develop during the fetal stage and are the ones to ossify first. They are fully mature at birth and do not grow afterward.
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...

System of Memory

System of Memory

Memory is categorized into three major systems: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). These systems differ in their capacity and the duration for which they can hold information. Sensory memory captures raw sensory input from the environment, holding it for just a few seconds or less. For example, on hearing a brief, loud sound, like a car horn honking, the sound seems to linger in the mind for a moment even after it stops. This is an instance of sensory memory...

Working Memory

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...

Long-Term Memory

Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Detection of culprit presence in multiple-culprit crimes: A comparison of combined and separate lineup-presentation formats.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Investigating the reproducibility of the social and behavioural sciences.

Nature·2026

Same author

Investigating the replicability of the social and behavioural sciences.

Nature·2026

Same author

Validating a multinomial processing tree model for measuring confidence in lineups using a post-response feedback manipulation.

Cognitive research: principles and implications·2026

Same author

Data from three experiments on auditory attention and distraction in autistic and nonautistic adults.

Data in brief·2026

Same author

Don't Listen to Yourself!

Experimental psychology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Effects of Auditory Distraction on Face Memory.

Raoul Bell¹, Laura Mieth², Jan Philipp Röer³

¹Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. raoul.bell@hhu.de.

Scientific Reports

|July 17, 2019

Summary

Auditory distraction from background speech impairs face learning. Changing speech is more disruptive than steady speech, regardless of semantic content, impacting visual memory.

More Related Videos

A Mouse Distraction Osteogenesis Model

A Mouse Distraction Osteogenesis Model

Published on: November 14, 2018

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Published on: August 29, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

A Mouse Distraction Osteogenesis Model

A Mouse Distraction Osteogenesis Model

Published on: November 14, 2018

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

Published on: August 29, 2018

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Auditory Perception
Visual Memory

Background:

Auditory distraction effects on verbal memory are known.
Impact of background speech on visual memory, specifically face learning, is less understood.
Prior research suggests auditory changes, not just sound, cause distraction.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if irrelevant speech impairs face learning.
To compare the disruptive effects of changing-state speech versus steady-state speech on face recognition.
To determine if semantic content influences auditory distraction in face learning.

Main Methods:

Participants learned faces under three conditions: quiet, changing-state speech (sentential speech), and steady-state speech (word repetitions).
Face recognition accuracy was measured in each condition.
A second study replicated findings using reversed speech to control for semantic content.

Main Results:

Face recognition was significantly impaired by irrelevant speech compared to quiet conditions.
Changing-state speech caused greater disruption to face learning than steady-state speech.
The disruptive effect of speech persisted even when semantic content was removed (reversed speech).

Conclusions:

Irrelevant background speech robustly impairs face learning, demonstrating a significant effect on visual memory.
The changing nature of auditory stimuli, rather than semantic content, is a key factor in auditory distraction.
Findings have implications for understanding cognitive load and designing environments to minimize memory interference.