Abstract The effects and aftereffects of noise on human performance and affective state were investigated in two experiments. In the first, 48 undergraduate university students completed five paper-and-pencil performance tests in a noisy (85 dBA) and/or quiet (45 dBA) environment. In the second experiment, 24 students completed two mood-and four environment-rating scales under the same conditions as in experiment 1. There were statistically reliable noise effects and aftereffects on the subjects’ affective ratings but none on their performance.