Red.
Colors, just like words, evoke an emotional stimulus. When a person registers the color red, a nerve impulse transmits from the eye, up the optic nerve and to the visual cortex – a part of the brain responsible for visual information processing. After this, the prefrontal cortex receives the image and develops an emotional response. The emotional response may vary from person to person.
Green has been observed to reduce stress, create feelings of relaxation and increase cognitive function. Research shows that certain shades of blue evoke a similar effect, increasing productivity, and calming the mind. Conversely, excessive exposure to certain shades of blue can trigger feelings of loneliness and sadness
Warmer tones such as red can influence strong emotions like anger or love. Red has also been proven to increase heart rate and aerobic respiration. Yellow is linked to feelings of happiness and optimism along with raises in blood pressure. In general, cool toned colors tend to relax the mind and warm tones were shown to excite.
Nevertheless, many researchers acknowledge that the subconscious plays a huge role in the influence over your actions and thoughts.
For example, interior designers noted that the white wallpaper of a classroom draws attention away from the walls and to the furniture inside the room, manipulating the perception of an area to feel larger. The color white is also known to make students feel refreshed and organized; however, if white constantly encompasses a person’s environment, feelings of stress and restlessness set in, disrupting the ability to focus on work and encouraging disruptive behavior.
Covering the walls with posters, or adding interesting furniture in a room can minimize or amplify the effect of your desired colors. Think about the classrooms that you feel most comfortable in – what color are the walls? Do the lighting and decorations enhance or hinder your focus?
So, how can you use this to your advantage? Color can have a huge influence over academic studying and annotation. Color coding and highlighting notes are proven to increase memory retrieval. A study found that notes in red increased memory recall by 31% compared to blue ink–with both colors having a higher impact on memorization than black ink.
However, constant exposure to that same color eventually desensitized participants to their effect. For example, if you write all of your notes in red, your brain will recognize that as the norm, and the information will stop jumping out at you. Researchers recommend to balance the use of color during studying, only color coding crucial information.
The influence of colors in your environment is undeniable. It plays a key role in manipulating your perception and actions. Distinguishing the emotions influenced by color helps to build strategic behaviors in academics and gain self-awareness.