Exploring the Influence of Ambient Temperature on Cognitive Task Performance

This research examines the effect of ambient temperature on individuals’ cognitive task performances. Specifically, we examine how relatively warm versus relatively cool temperatures can affect performance on simple and complex tasks. We theorize and find that relatively warm versus cool temperatures enhances performance on rather complex tasks and tasks that require creativity. This effect appears to be driven by the enhanced unconscious thinking prompted by warm versus cool temperatures. However, this beneficial effect of warm temperature disappears when the focal tasks are rather simple.



Citation:

Rui (Juliet) Zhu and Luqiong Tong (2011) ,"Exploring the Influence of Ambient Temperature on Cognitive Task Performance", in AP - Asia-Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 9, eds. Zhihong Yi, Jing Jian Xiao, and June Cotte and Linda Price, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 156-157.

Authors

Rui (Juliet) Zhu, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia
Luqiong Tong, School of Economic and Management, Tsinghua University



Volume

AP - Asia-Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 9 | 2011



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