Objective: Previous studies indicate that noise may affect worker attention. However, some background music in the work environment can increase worker satisfaction and productivity. This study compared how music with, and without, lyrics affects human attention. Participants: One hundred and two participants, aged 20-24 years, were recruited into this study. Fifty-six males and 46 females participated in this study. Methods: Background music with, and without lyrics, was tested for effects on listener concentration in attention testing using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study. Results:The comparison results revealed that background music with lyrics had significant negative effects on concentration and attention. Conclusions: The findings suggest that, if background music is played in the work environment, music without lyrics is preferable because songs with lyrics are likely to reduce worker attention and performance.

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Since the Kruithof's work on general illumination, the relationships between correlated color temperatures (CCTs) and human behavior are well documented. In the recent years, because of the high growth of light‐emitting diode (LED) lighting products, studies on the effects of LED lighting on human behavior have emerged. This study examines the effects of CCTs on focused and sustained attention under white LED desk lighting. Three CCT conditions (2700, 4300, and 6500 K) are examined, and the Chu Attention Test was used to measure focused and sustained attention. Results show that CCTs affect attention. In specific, the 4300 K condition resulted in a significantly better focused and sustained attention. Comfortableness and clarity are rated by the subjects. The self‐reported comfort shows no significant differences among the three conditions, but clarity shows significant differences. Gender differences are also discussed. It is found that the self‐reported clarity by males show no significant differences among the three lighting conditions, whereas the self‐reported clarity by females is significantly lower when CCT is 2700 K. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 281–286, 2015

Objective: Background music is a common element in daily living and the workplace. Determination of whether background music affects human work concentration is a relevant concern. Studies have found background music influences human behavior, and this study attempts to understand how background music and listener fondness for types of music affects worker concentration. Methods: This study analyzes how different types of background music -and how listeners' degree of preference for the background music -can affect listener concentration in attention testing through Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Participants: Data were collected from 89 workers. The participants ranged in age between 19 and 28 years old, with an average age of 24 years old. Results: We conclude background music influenced listener attention. This influence has more to do with listener fondness for the music than with type of music. Compared to situations without background music, the likelihood of background music affecting test-taker attention performance is likely to increase with the degree to which the test-taker likes or dislikes the music. Conclusions: It is important not to select music that workers strongly like or dislike when making a selection of background music to avoid negatively affecting worker concentration.

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