The Impact of Auditory Interference on Aberrant Data Perception

The perception of aberrant data (PAD), a core component of social functioning and cognitive decision-making, is vulnerable to environmental noise interference. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this susceptibility remain poorly understood. Addressing this gap, our study systematically examines how interfering sounds modulate PAD. Using a 2 (interfering sound type: N [industrial noise] vs. S [steady-state]) × 2 (PAD outcome: PAD+ [correct aberrant identification] vs. PAD- [correct normal recognition]) within-subjects design, we integrated behavioral measures and electroencephalography time-frequency analyses to assess 35 participants. Behaviorally, noise exposure significantly increased reaction times and error rates, though prolonged exposure elicited adaptive performance improvements, suggesting dynamic noise-driven behavioral recalibration. Neurally, we identified dissociable oscillatory mechanisms: prefrontal-temporal β oscillations underpinned top-down attentional control, whereas temporal θ oscillations facilitated cognitive-affective integration. Critically, progressive noise exposure facilitated environmental adaptability through dual mechanisms-habituation of the orienting response coupled with negative affect regulation, thereby reducing attentional disengagement from focal tasks and enhancing goal-directed behavioral efficiency. These findings advance the duplex mechanism theory by delineating its neural substrates across frequency-, region-, and time-specific dimensions. Moreover, this study establishes a healthy control baseline and identifies candidate biomarkers for investigating the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.