Abstract
Memory and attention: A review. In this revision we have tried to include the most relevant studies that, over the past 30 years try to make clear the possible effects of noise on attention and memory. The studies relate the experimental conditions of noise, the subjects' general activation, and the dominance of the task-elements, during the whole experimental process. For the each theme, we have organized the material by dividing it indo sections, according to the most relevant aspects of each of the studies under consideration and aloe its relation to the other studies. These sections are not mutually exclusive, because, due to the nature of our subject matter, they intermix. Under "The Relationship between Noise and Memory" we have considered theories and outcomes of experiments on free short-term recall, short-term recall of position and sequence, of groupiing in categories and, collaterally, the effects on non-memoristic tasks of identification or recognition.Under "Noise and Attention" we include two groups of investigations: those studying the effects of noise on the attention process by inferences drawn in relation to memorization and information-recuperation process, and those which assess attention by observed results in visual tests. These is a section which considers variables not included in prior sections, but related to the effects of noise on attention. Lastly, a large section is devoted to expose the main factors involved in the researches and our analysis and conclussion to respect them.
