Effects of the Active Noise Canceling Function on Cognitive Performance and Subjective Evaluation in Open Public Environments

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of active noise canceling (ANC) earphones on cognitive performance and subjective evaluation in a public openspace environment such as a café, and to verify the effectiveness of active noise canceling (ANC) under various sound environmental conditions.<br/>Background: In recent years, an increasing number of people have been working and studying in public open-space environments such as cafés, shared offices, and open libraries. However, the unpredictable background noise in these spaces can hinder concentration and negatively affect cognitive task performance. Consequently, active noise canceling (ANC) function has gained attention as a potential solution to block such noise effectively, and research is needed to examine whether it positively impacts cognitive performance and user satisfaction.<br/>Method: This study analyzed cognitive performance (Digit Span and N-back Tasks) and subjective evaluation (concentration, accuracy, satisfaction, and discomfort) under different sound environment conditions, including active noise canceling (ANC), transparency, and background sound. Six experimental conditions were created, and participants performed tasks and completed subjective evaluations for each condition. A post-experiment survey was also conducted to assess preferences for each condition.<br/>Results: Under ANC-on conditions (SEC 5, SEC 6), participants showed higher cognitive performance scores, shorter reaction times per score, and more favorable subjective evaluations, including higher levels of concentration, accuracy, and satisfaction, along with lower discomfort. Participants most preferred the ANC-on conditions. In contrast, under transparency mode conditions (SEC 2, SEC 4), subjective evaluations showed lower scores for concentration, accuracy, and satisfaction, and higher discomfort.<br/>Conclusion: The active noise canceling (ANC) function had a positive effect on cognitive performance and subjective satisfaction in public open-space environments and can serve as an ergonomic element to support effective learning and work.<br/>Application: This study verified the effectiveness of active noise canceling (ANC) function in public open-space environments and suggests that future research should include more diverse age groups and environmental conditions to further evaluate its practical value.