Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Type

Submission

Department

Psychology

Major

Psychology

Abstract

Research on the psychological effects of design elements is of interest to designers, and even individuals, creating the experience of a space. Generally, warm colors like red and yellow are more stimulating and arousing than cool colors like blue and green, which are more relaxing and calming. Warm colors can also be distracting while cool colors help promote focus. Conversely, warm (orange-white) lighting positively influences mood more than cool (blue-white) lighting, but cool lighting can better promote productivity. No study thus far has analyzed the interaction of background color and lighting temperature on mood and cognitive performance.

We hypothesized that (1) cool color and warm lighting conditions would elicit more positive mood than warm color and cool lighting conditions, (2) that warm color as well as cool lighting conditions would be more arousing than cool color and warm lighting conditions as measured by heart rates, (3) that cognitive performance would be better in cool color and cool lighting conditions than warm color and warm lighting conditions, and (4) that generally the four color and lighting combinations would have different effects from one another on mood and cognitive performance.

Data were collected from 78 undergraduate students in a 2 (warm vs. cool color) x 2 (warm vs. cool lighting) experimental design. The effects of color conditions were examined between subjects, and lighting conditions were examined within subjects. Our outcomes included affect (as measured by the PANAS), cognitive performance (as measured by reaction times and accuracy scores on the Stroop task and creative intelligence scores on the RAT), and heart rates (as measured by forearm heart rate monitors).

Hypothesis 1 was supported: the significant interaction effect of color and lighting indicated that Positive Affect was highest in the cool color x warm lighting condition, and lowest in the warm color x cool lighting condition (p = .050, πœ‚2p = .05). Interestingly, Negative Affect was also higher in warm lighting than cool lighting (p = .045, πœ‚2p = .05), but was not impacted by background color or the interaction.

Hypothesis 2 was not supported: Heart Rates were not influenced by color, lighting, or interaction effects (all ps > .05).

Hypothesis 3 was partially contradicted: reaction times on the Stroop task were faster in the warm lighting condition than the cool lighting condition, indicating that warm lighting boosted reaction speed better than cool lighting (p < .001, πœ‚2p = .59). Color did not lead to differences in reaction times, and neither lighting nor color temperature led to differences in Accuracy scores. However, RAT scores were significantly higher in cool lighting than warm lighting (p = .050, πœ‚2p = .05). The main effect of color and the interaction effect were not significant. Effects of lighting on cognitive performance seem to be task-dependent.

Hypothesis 4 was supported by these results, as color and lighting temperatures affected our outcomes in different ways.

Cognitive performance and mood are key aspects of functioning in offices, residences, and many other spaces. These results can inform individuals and designers on how to optimize such areas of psychological functioning using these elements of a space.

Faculty Mentor

Elizabeth Mancuso

Funding Source or Research Program

Not Identified

Location

Waves Cafeteria

Start Date

24-3-2023 2:00 PM

End Date

24-3-2023 4:00 PM

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Mar 24th, 2:00 PM Mar 24th, 4:00 PM

Effects of Color and Lighting Temperature on Mood and Cognitive Performance

Waves Cafeteria

Research on the psychological effects of design elements is of interest to designers, and even individuals, creating the experience of a space. Generally, warm colors like red and yellow are more stimulating and arousing than cool colors like blue and green, which are more relaxing and calming. Warm colors can also be distracting while cool colors help promote focus. Conversely, warm (orange-white) lighting positively influences mood more than cool (blue-white) lighting, but cool lighting can better promote productivity. No study thus far has analyzed the interaction of background color and lighting temperature on mood and cognitive performance.

We hypothesized that (1) cool color and warm lighting conditions would elicit more positive mood than warm color and cool lighting conditions, (2) that warm color as well as cool lighting conditions would be more arousing than cool color and warm lighting conditions as measured by heart rates, (3) that cognitive performance would be better in cool color and cool lighting conditions than warm color and warm lighting conditions, and (4) that generally the four color and lighting combinations would have different effects from one another on mood and cognitive performance.

Data were collected from 78 undergraduate students in a 2 (warm vs. cool color) x 2 (warm vs. cool lighting) experimental design. The effects of color conditions were examined between subjects, and lighting conditions were examined within subjects. Our outcomes included affect (as measured by the PANAS), cognitive performance (as measured by reaction times and accuracy scores on the Stroop task and creative intelligence scores on the RAT), and heart rates (as measured by forearm heart rate monitors).

Hypothesis 1 was supported: the significant interaction effect of color and lighting indicated that Positive Affect was highest in the cool color x warm lighting condition, and lowest in the warm color x cool lighting condition (p = .050, πœ‚2p = .05). Interestingly, Negative Affect was also higher in warm lighting than cool lighting (p = .045, πœ‚2p = .05), but was not impacted by background color or the interaction.

Hypothesis 2 was not supported: Heart Rates were not influenced by color, lighting, or interaction effects (all ps > .05).

Hypothesis 3 was partially contradicted: reaction times on the Stroop task were faster in the warm lighting condition than the cool lighting condition, indicating that warm lighting boosted reaction speed better than cool lighting (p < .001, πœ‚2p = .59). Color did not lead to differences in reaction times, and neither lighting nor color temperature led to differences in Accuracy scores. However, RAT scores were significantly higher in cool lighting than warm lighting (p = .050, πœ‚2p = .05). The main effect of color and the interaction effect were not significant. Effects of lighting on cognitive performance seem to be task-dependent.

Hypothesis 4 was supported by these results, as color and lighting temperatures affected our outcomes in different ways.

Cognitive performance and mood are key aspects of functioning in offices, residences, and many other spaces. These results can inform individuals and designers on how to optimize such areas of psychological functioning using these elements of a space.

 

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