Colors have the power to change our mood and our energy. Some people also believe that colors can make us remember words more easily and be more creative.
Scientists at the University of British Columbia say that the color red makes people remember words better, and the color blue makes people more creative. They tested 600 people showing them words and objects on a computer with blue backgrounds, red backgrounds and white backgrounds.
In some tests the people had to remember words or look for mistakes in spelling and grammar. In these tests, people looking at red backgrounds did much better.
In other tests, people looked at shapes on the computer and had to think of creative ways to use those shapes. In these tests, people looking at blue backgrounds did better.
According to this color research, when we need to focus our attention, we’ll do better in a red room, but for activities where we need to think more freely and creatively, a blue room is better.
Color doesn’t just affect learning. It also can affect our love life. Researchers at the University of Rochester did a study on the effect of color on men’s perception of women. Men were shown pictures of women and rated their looks. Women shown wearing red or with red backgrounds were considered better looking.
Before you decide to paint your walls, it’s important to remember that these research studies were done in North America. At the University of British Columbia the people were asked how they felt about the colors red and blue. Most of them said that red represented danger and mistakes, and blue represented peace and openness.
Depending on what country you come from, you might have a completely different feeling about these colors. According to this chart from the website Information is Beautiful, there are many different meanings for the colors blue and red. In Africa, blue can represent love. In China, red can represent fertility. This chart is separated into 10 different cultures.
A Western European/ North American
B Japanese
C Hindu
D Native American
E Chinese
F Asian
G Eastern European
H Muslim
I African
J South American
Look at the different meanings for colors in your culture. What do your think? Is this chart correct? Do you think that color can positively affect your learning and creativity? Let us know in the comments.
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