What is the temperature at your workplace?.

If you are too hot or too cold, then your memory will not work productively, as the Internet publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old Pannochka. net At least, so say researchers from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

It is well known that the temperature of the environment can influence our mood. Many of us are happier in the sun, while others prefer coolness. But how does the ambient temperature affect our cognitive abilities?.

According to a research group that included Leiden psychologists Lorenza Colzato and Roberta Sellaro, the colder environment stimulates cognitive functions in performing complex mental tasks.

Another study, conducted in 2012 with the support of the Kessler Foundation, showed that, on the contrary, cognitive functions increase in a warm environment.

But researchers at the University of Leiden point out that there is very little scientific evidence about how temperatures affect the efficiency of "working memory", responsible for short-term storage and manipulation of information. We use "working memory" constantly, for everyday tasks, preparing dinner, remembering the phone number, etc..

To further explore this phenomenon, the research team conducted a series of tests on two groups of participants who were placed in a different environment, depending on the temperature they preferred (cold or warm).

All participants were required to perform tasks for "working memory" in three different environments, at the following temperatures: 25 ° C (77 Fahrenheit), 15 ° C (59 Fahrenheit) and 20 ° C (68 Fahrenheit).

The task included viewing various letters on the computer screen. The letters appeared one after another, and participants had to signal each time a letter appeared on the screen, which they had already seen two frames ago.

Working at a favorite temperature "improves mental performance" The results of this study, recently published in the journal Psychological Research, revealed that when participants performed the task at their preferred temperature, they showed the best results.

Researchers suggest that performing tasks in the favorite temperature regime can counteract the so-called "ego-depletion" (ego-depletion) - a reduction in self-control after the completion of a tedious intellectual task, when significant cognitive control is required.

Commenting on the results of the study, the scientists said: "The results support the assumption that temperature affects cognitive functions. Working at an ideal temperature for ourselves, we can be more efficient and productive.

Our data not only confirm the importance of research in this direction, but also point to the need for practical application of this knowledge in the design of jobs ".

medbe. en.

Keywords:.