Between the lines: a survey to evaluate how light color gradients affect emotions

This article explores the hypothesis that light, through different color gradients within it, can influence individuals' moods and emotions while doing simple operations like reading a text. This premise is rooted in the theory of color psychology, which suggests that colors can evoke certain emotions and behaviors. Light, being a spectrum of colors, may thus have the potential to influence mood and emotions, particularly during reading when the reader's engagement is high and they are more susceptible to subtle environmental cues. To test this hypothesis, this study employs a series of psychological questionnaires designed to measure participants' emotions, arousal, and anxiety levels. These questionnaires are administered after exposure to different lighting conditions, with varying brightness levels, CCTs, and color gradients. The aim is to establish a correlation between the lighting conditions and the emotional and behavioral responses of the participants. The research builds on previous studies that have demonstrated the influence of light on mood and cognitive performance. Küller (Küller et al., 2006) found that light quality affects employees' mood and well-being in work environments. Knez (Knez, 2001) highlighted how different color temperatures of light can influence cognitive performance and mood. Recent research (Bortolotti et al., 2022) has delved deeper into the influence of perceived color lightness on psychological functions. This research investigates how the perception of color lightness can affect various psychological processes, adding another layer to our understanding of the complex relationship between light, color, and human psychology. The study examines how light, particularly its color and intensity, can influence mood and emotions through its impact on circadian rhythms and the production of hormones such as melatonin and serotonin. Many researches have shown that intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) play a crucial role in this interaction, influencing circadian rhythms and acute behavioral responses to light. As a premise for this research, we have raised the question of whether colour and light affect physiology and psychology in proportional ways. Our research suggests a complex interplay between the physical properties of light and colour and their psychological and physiological effects, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of these relationships. The findings of this study could have implications for various fields; optimizing lighting conditions in education and office settings could enhance reading comprehension and productivity. In conclusion, this article presents a comprehensive investigation into the potential influence of light, through its color gradients, on individuals' moods and emotions during text reading. Integrating psychological measures with exploring physiological mechanisms provides a thorough and credible understanding of this phenomenon.