Noise and verbal or spatial solutions of Rubik's cube

Subjects were required to solve simple problems using a Rubik's cube, posed either spatially (a pictorial representation of the problem) or verbally (written instructions). Results showed that subjects classified on a pretest as spatially able performed better on the Rubik's cube than those classified as verbally able. In addition, verbal performance was better under 95 dBA than 70 dBA and spatial performance better under 70 dB A than under 95 dB A white noise. The results are considered in the light of the contradictory literature on the effects of noise on human memory, with particular reference to the adoption of problem-solving strategies in noise.