Colour is believed to be the most important visual experience to human beings (2). It functions as a powerful information channel to the human cognitive system and has been found to play a significant role in enhancing memory performance (3).
Greene, Bell, and Boyer (1983) also argues that warm colors such as red, yellow and orange have a greater effect on human memory in retaining information than cool colors such as brown and grey.
Do certain colors improve memory? In one study, students in British Columbia scored higher on memory tasks when completing them on a red background.
Some theorists argue that an environment rich in the color orange increases the oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity while simultaneously loosening peoples' inhibitions. An increased oxygen supply also leads to feeling invigorated and getting ready to 'get things done.
The memory color effect is the phenomenon that memory colors directly modulate the appearance of the actual colors of objects. For example, normal allistic human trichromats, when presented with a gray banana, often perceive the gray banana as being yellow - the banana's memory color.
While the term “memory color” has been employed in psychophysics, the alternative term “canon- ical color” is primarily used in developmental research [3, 4]. Here, the research questions are more focused on the developmental order than on the subjective nature of memory colors.
We observed a negative relation between colour preferences and nostalgia-associations, due to greenish-brown colours being strongly associated with nostalgia, but least preferred (r[485]=-0.38, p=0.03).
Red is the most powerful color amongst all. It has a tendency to stimulate mind and attract attention.
Red Color Psychology
In color psychology, red is the most intense color. And thus, can provoke the strongest emotions. Red can also trigger danger so you want to use the color sparingly.
Red is used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation. Yellow is thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body. Orange is used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels. Blue is believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
Warm colors like red, yellow and orange evoke higher arousal emotions, such as love, passion, happiness, and anger. Cool colors, like blue, green and purple are linked to calmness, sadness and indifference. Colors can trigger these arousal states and emotions.
Yellow is usually the color of happy, joyful emotions.
Studies have shown that blue and green can create a calming atmosphere; orange and yellow can stimulate appetite; red and pink can inspire passion and energy; while purple can boost creativity and productivity.
Did you know the human brain is the organ that colors objects we perceive with our eyes and has a color of its own? The human brain color physically is white, black, and red-pinkish while it is alive and pulsating.
Purple is the most mysterious and elusive of them. The uncertainty of whether a purple hue is reddish or bluish, is never dispelled. In a different light, purple can appear to be completely different. Functionally: Purple is a popular color in advertising.
Gray Colors
It also evokes feelings of loneliness and isolation. Since gray is neither black nor white, it's usually thought of as the transition between two non-colors.
Blue: Blue is the color of trust, confidence, and intelligence. Blue encourages intellectual activity, reasoning and logical thinking, and acquires lessons faster. That is the color of intellect.
Green is the color of ingenuity and learning. "Geniuses pick green," said Robert DeNiro in Meet The Parents. Scientists have found that a room painted green can actually improve a child's learning speed and retention.
Warm colors – such as red, yellow and orange – can spark a variety of emotions ranging from comfort and warmth to hostility and anger. Cool colors – such as green, blue and purple – often spark feelings of calmness as well as sadness.
Besides heaven, the color blue indicates the Holy Spirit and truth. As for the lighter shades of blue, these were often used to represent the Virgin Mary.
In 2002, Karl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry computed the average color from all the light we see from stars and galaxies today to determine the current color of the universe. It turned out to be a pale tan similar to the color of coffee with cream. They named the color "cosmic latte."
Red is the color of power. It gets people's attention and it holds it, which is why it's the most popular color for marketing. The word SALE is always red, and you'll often find red a common tie color for professionals. When you want to be viewed as trustworthy and cool, blue is the color for you.
Colors close to the red spectrum are warmer colors, including red, orange, and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Whereas blue colors like purple and green are known for evoking feelings of calm, sadness, or indifference.
Colors and emotions are closely linked. Warm colors can evoke different emotions than cool colors and bright colors can create different feelings than muted colors. It all depends on how the psychological effects of color are being used. Every color creates different emotions and feelings.
Sepia was thus predestined to be the color of nostalgia, well before the subjects of photographs printed in sepia had become objects of nostalgia.