Blue or red? Exploring the effect of color on cognitive task performances.

Ravi Mehta, Rui Juliet Zhu

February 2009 Science

Synopsis of Social media discussions

This collection of discussions collectively supports the article's conclusions on color's effect on cognition, with examples like personal color preferences and remarks on how red and blue can subconsciously influence motivation and performance. The tone varies from supportive to curious, often emphasizing the practical applications of these findings, which underscores its perceived significance.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions recognize and support the main findings of the article, especially regarding how color impacts cognitive performance, reflected in supportive phrases like 'color influences' and 'effects are significant.'

I
Interest
 High level of interest

The discussions show high interest, with many posts actively analyzing the implications and sharing personal preferences for colors, such as blue or green, indicating curiosity and engagement with the topic.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Posts delve into the science behind these findings, referencing specific effects like 'red boosts detail-oriented tasks,' and some even mention studies or suggest practical applications, demonstrating depth of engagement.

I
Impact
 High level of impact

Several discussions suggest the research could influence how we approach tasks and environments, with comments emphasizing the importance of color choices and their potential to enhance performance, indicating they see high societal or practical impact.

Social Mentions

YouTube

2 Videos

Facebook

4 Posts

Twitter

5 Posts

Blogs

5 Articles

News

29 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

2,429

Total Likes

25

Extended Reach

10,948

Social Features

45

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

Colors and Motivation: How Blue and Red Influence Cognitive Performance

Colors and Motivation: How Blue and Red Influence Cognitive Performance

This short explores how blue and red colors affect cognitive tasks. Red enhances detail-oriented performance, while blue promotes creativity, driven by subconscious motivational states supported by multiple studies.

Momentum Eureka

July 25, 2025

2,345 views

Color Influence on Cognitive Performance and Motivation Effects

Color Influence on Cognitive Performance and Motivation Effects

The research explores how blue and red colors influence performance on different types of cognitive tasks, finding that red boosts detail-oriented tasks while blue enhances creative tasks, with results supported across multiple studies and real-world applications.

Gửi Nị

January 7, 2024

84 views

  • Ryo Matsuzaki　松嵜　遼
    @ryomtzk (Twitter)

    ＞赤背景では注意力・詳細志向を要する課題の成績が向上 こっちの結果ではテストで有利に働きそう。 どっちなんだろう https://t.co/2UIKI0XZcD
    view full post

    September 29, 2025

    1

  • tokatti
    @tokatti_ (Twitter)

    成績が2倍良くなった 青い壁紙で作業をしたグループは、創造性が必要なタスクの成績が2倍良くなった ヒトの無意識では「赤＝警戒色」「青＝リラックス」といった連想が働くので、赤は不安を煽って集中力を増し、青は脳が開放されて創造性を高めた https://t.co/ynSes8QN03 #自分用メモ
    view full post

    November 27, 2024

  • Create Alliances for Better and Prepare for Worse.
    @SamAsIAm (Twitter)

    And use colored ink(s). There are studies showing colored inks are more effective for this than default black ink. Red particularly. Personally I prefer peacock blue or various greens, and disdain black. https://t.co/AtvIPBqmfH AND https://t.co/7H4GS4CTZr https://t.co/Y4SLBFWVwL
    view full post

    March 19, 2023

  • Arun Jacob
    @arungapatchka (Twitter)

    @kou_tianyi Mehta, Ravi, and Rui Juliet Zhu. “Blue or Red? Exploring the Effect of Color on Cognitive Task Performances.” Science, vol. 323, no. 5918, Feb. 2009, pp. 1226–29, doi:10.1126/science.1169144. https://t.co/9hAQCxyG4O
    view full post

    October 14, 2020

    1

  • Fuji3@retired
    @Fuji3_R6 (Twitter)

    その他 ・青 緑同様にリラックス効果が高い。緑以上に効果が高い可能性もある。 リラックスしすぎないか？という不安がある。 ・ピンク 僅かに攻撃性の減少などが報告されているそう。 ただ、全く効果が無かったという報告もあり、定かではない。 https://t.co/4P4XyAcw66 https://t.co/QnGPvMaFcX
    view full post

    September 19, 2020

    3

    2

Abstract Synopsis

  • The research explores how blue and red colors influence performance on different types of cognitive tasks, finding that red boosts detail-oriented tasks while blue enhances creative tasks, with results supported across multiple studies and real-world applications.
  • The study explains the conflicting previous findings by showing that red and blue induce different motivational states: red leads to avoidance motivation, helping with precise tasks, whereas blue encourages approach motivation, aiding creative endeavors.
  • The effects of color on cognitive performance occur subconsciously and are mediated by the activation of these motivational states, meaning people are often unaware of how color influences their task performance.]