Publication Date
Spring 4-22-2026
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Psychological Sciences and Neurosciences, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Michael Oliver
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
The current study aims to determine if colored backgrounds (red, blue, white (neutral)) on a series of memory tasks impact an individual's stress level and cognitive performance. Previous research indicates that color exposure may impact stress and cognitive performance, although the relationship is not fully understood. For example, participants completing memory assessments with a red light have been shown to perform better than those with blue or white lights (Jadho et al., 2020). However, red light is also associated with greater experiences of stress compared to blue or white light (Shahidi et al., 2021). There are several studies exploring different colored lights in the room while participants complete memory tasks, yet very few explore alterations in the background color of the tests themselves. The current study aims to determine if colored backgrounds on a series of memory tasks impact an individual's stress level and cognitive performance. This study uses an experimental design where participants complete two cognitive tasks, the Corsi Block Tapping Task and Digit Span Task, under different background color conditions [e.g., red, blue, and white (neutral)], while physiological stress is measured using skin conductance and heart rate/pulse oximetry. We predict that warm colors will promote higher stress levels, therefore negatively impacting memory scores, compared to cooler colors and neutral colors. We also predict that cool colors will positively influence memory performance while stress levels decrease or remain at baseline. This research can be used to create strategies to optimize cognitive performance through visual cues such as altering the design of learning environments, workspaces, and digital material to account for the influence of color on memory and stress.
Recommended Citation
Scott, Madeleine R.; Johnson, Erin; Mitchell, Christian; and Lopez Hernandez, Andreq, "Color and Cognitive Performance" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 745.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/745
