Influence of lighting color temperature on effort-related cardiac response

Higher color temperature refers to a higher proportion of blue spectral components of light, that are known to be associated with higher alertness state in humans. Based on motivational intensity theory (Brehm & Self, 1989), here we predicted that this lighting-induced alertness state should inform about the readiness to perform and this way influence subjective task demand and thus mental effort. To test this, study participants spent 15 min under one of four lighting color temperature conditions and then performed a cognitive task. As predicted, effort-related cardiac response, indexed by a shortened cardiac pre-ejection period, decreased with increasing color temperature of light, as indicated by a significant single planned linear contrast. These results demonstrate that spectral properties of light can influence mental effort mobilization.