Attentional Correlates of Colored Lights: Considerations for Cognitive Testing

Abstract

Attention, an important index of cognitive function, can be affected amidst colored lights. This work investigated the effects of colored lights on the performance in attention task. Participants (N = 42) performed in one, two, and three letter cancellation task (LCT) during four lighting conditions. The order of LCT and the colored light sessions were randomized. The performance in LCT was evaluated through % accuracy, % omission, and % error. A repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in % accuracy in one LCT (F(2.46, 100.8) = 24.45, p < 0.001), two LCT (F(2.57, 105.4) = 20.53, p < 0.001), and three LCT (F(2.66, 109.22) = 17.96, p < 0.001) among the four colored lights. In addition, % omission revealed a statistically significant difference in one LCT (F(2.46, 100.8) = 24.43, p < 0.001), two LCT (F(2.57, 105.4) = 20.57, p < 0.001), and three LCT (F(2.66, 109.16) = 18.21, p < 0.001) among the four lights. There was no statistically significant difference in % error in one LCT (F(2.05, 84.1) = 1.23, p = 0.3), two LCT (F(2.66, 109.06) = 0.62, p = 0.971), three LCT (F(2.62, 107.53) = 0.97, p = 0.4) among the four lighting conditions. Colored lights affect attention-related cognitive processing. The attentional correlates of white and red lights are more compared to green, and blue lights. Lighting condition should be an important consideration for cognitive testing, for designing workspaces, educational settings, and other environments where attention plays a crucial role.

Keywords: attention; cognitive testing; colored lights; letter cancellation task; red light.