The Color Series Part 1: The Physiological Effects of Color
Ever wondered how colors are processed by the brain, and indeed, how they affect the brain and the physical body? In today’s blog, we investigate what’s happening within the brain when we perceive color and explore what impact individual colors have on both our brain function and cognitive abilities.
How do we see color?
The science of perceiving color begins when light enters our eyes. This activates what are known as photoreceptor cells, or cones, within the retina. These cones register the varying wavelengths of light that each color has and send signals to the brain accordingly. The brain’s visual cortex is on the receiving end, interpreting and integrating this information with other sensory inputs to form the variety of colors that we perceive.
How does color affect cognition?
Interestingly, color actually has a powerful effect on our cognitive performance. Several studies have revealed that certain colors can change the way our brain functions, impacting our performance on a whole host of tasks, from detail-oriented to memory. Let’s look a little deeper at the rainbow and how each color affects the brain:
The physiological effects of color
Red is a stimulating color that can increase arousal levels and heart rate. As such, it may be able to enhance physical and cognitive performance, especially when it comes to tasks that involve a great level of vigilance and attention to detail.
Yellow on the other hand has been shown to boost memory-based tasks, stimulating mental processes.
Exposure to green environments, especially in nature, has been shown to help improve cognitive functioning in a variety of ways.
The color blue can offer a boost in tasks that require problem-solving and creativity skills, helping to sustain focus and attention.
Purple’s effects are lesser known, but it has also been tied to aiding in promoting creativity and problem-solving skills.
In next week’s post, we’ll be discussing the emotional and mental impact of the rainbow of colors. We’ll also be explaining all of the useful practical applications of utilizing color in our lives, so stay tuned!