Everyone experiences times of inspiration burnout, where you may not be able to come up with any new ideas no matter how hard you try. However scientific experiments have proven that creativity can be sparked by exposing the brain to certain stimuli.
Adam Green, a cognitive neuroscientist at Georgetown University and founder of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, has found that an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is associated with creative thinking. He and his colleagues believe that stimulating this area enhances creativity.
What I'm trying to say is that the human brain is fascinating. Scientists are still researching many aspects of creativity, and there are probably countless ways we can stimulate this process and experience those “lightbulb moments”.
What is the connection between creativity and lighting?
Science shows that creativity peaks when our brains are exposed to fresh air and warm sunlight. Unfortunately, we can't always brainstorm outdoors, plus the weather can be unpredictable, making it difficult to utilize warm sunlight when we need it most.
This is where color temperature in creative spaces comes into play. Science, taking into account general color theory and the capabilities of LED lighting, has identified three colors that best inspire creativity: yellow, orange and green.
Color Temperature
Color temperature is a measurement used to describe the color appearance of a light source, usually expressed in Kelvin (K). It reflects the color emitted by a light source at different temperatures, ranging from warm to cool. The lower the Kelvin value, the warmer the light appears. According to color theory, these lights emit warm tones such as orange and yellow, which are two of the three best colors for creative spaces. On the other hand, as the Kelvin value increases, the light will appear cooler and the whites brighter. Cool white light is often preferred for office buildings and retail stores because it increases productivity and focus.
Balancing Circadian Rhythm with Color Temperature
Dr. Paul Seli explores ways to enhance human creativity through hypnosis. From the perspective of our natural sleep-wake cycle, his research emphasizes the important role that dawn and dusk play in the day. Seely explains that our natural circadian rhythms play an important role in our creativity.
The warm colors of sunrise and sunset stimulate the brain and improve our creative abilities. According to Seely, these are also the moments when he feels hypnotized the most, but doesn't actually fall asleep.
Benefits of Warm Color Temperature
Warm light is essential to our natural cycles, and using a color temperature of 27-3K in your space has been shown to stimulate a more powerful creative process. A study conducted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine tested a range of cognitive functions and mood changes based on color temperature and RGB+ spectrum. Overall, the results were consistent with those of the experiments described above:
Warm light (27K) reduces overall feelings of anxiety.
Cool light (around 4K) is considered the color temperature that causes the least amount of fatigue.
Exposure to red light (below 2K) almost immediately increases anxiety, regardless of the task.
Prolonged exposure to bright white light (6-7K) leads to burnout, feelings of depression, and headaches.
Subjects under warm light (27-3K) reported that it was more "stimulating" and scored higher on creative writing prompts.
Subjects under cool light (4-5K) showed better focus and scored higher on mathematics exams.
In conclusion,
The two experiments mentioned above are just a few of the color temperature and brain function studies, but they both come to a similar conclusion: color temperature does affect the way our brains work. Research from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) suggests that these studies are not just limited to creativity, as Seli's tests focused on. Some studies have also addressed attention, productivity and even happiness. Lower CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps us fall asleep. Lower levels of melatonin can keep us alert, similar to the effect of caffeine, while warmer light tends to make us feel more relaxed.
Other Tips to Boost Creativity
While science shows that we can achieve different brain functions with different color temperatures, I'm not saying that replacing all your light bulbs is the complete solution. You can try using smart bulbs with adjustable RGB+ colors to simulate warm light for a creative and relaxing atmosphere, or brighter, cooler light for valuable learning sessions.
Of course, clever humans have introduced LED lights with multiple color temperatures, giving you the freedom to switch between different options. For example, the Hyperlite 8FT LED linear strip fixtures and the recently upgraded Hero series of highbay fixtures allow you to choose the right color temperature for your space.
In addition to lighting, there are other ways to help restore your creativity, including:
- Taking a walk outdoors. Fresh air and natural sunlight help stimulate brain function.
- Meditation. Taking deep breaths and slowing down is a great way to reset your mental space.
- Drinking water and snacking. Sometimes low blood sugar and dehydration can lead to burnout, resulting in a lack of inspiration.