Abstract One of the factors that influence learning and performance is optimal arousal. This differs from situation to situation and from person to person. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of background music, silence and noise on the performance of introverted and extraverted female students on the Academic Aptitude Test. The effect of the previous environment was studied as a moderator variable. First, Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was administered to 146 female university students. From these, 60 students (30 introverts and 30 extroverts) were chosen randomly. The results of repeated measure between subjects and inter subjects’ analysis and two way repeated measures between subjects and inter subjects’ analysis showed that the performance of introverts in silence and performance of extroverts with music was better. Moreover, results showed that performance of both groups in noisy condition were worse than music and silent conditions. Previous environment did not have a significant effect on the performance of subjects. These findings may be due to possibly innate differences in the ascending reticular activating system of introversion and extraversion resulting in the tendency of introverts towards better studying and performing in silence and also the tendency of extroverts toward better studying and performing while listening to music.

Keywords: background noise, study environment, type of personality

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