Three tasks examined visual perception, two of which measured
color recognition and one measured visual acuity. Only one of the
two color recognition tasks, the color hue test, showed performance
improvement at higher color temperatures. At first pass, this
result appears to support Berman’s (Berman et al., 1990) theory
relating increased color temperature with smaller pupil size and
thus enhanced visual acuity. However, this color hue test was also
the only of the three visual perception tasks that provide reaction
time data. Given our cognitive task results demonstrating reaction
time improvements at higher color temperatures, our results are
likely due to increased arousal rather than improved visual attention,
per se. That is, accuracy was equated across the four lighting
conditions, but participants were able to perform faster in the
higher color temperatures. Given arousal’s ability to enhance
reaction times (e.g., Bradley et al., 1992; Brunye et al., 2010), and the
fact that recent research suggests that the accuracy of visual
perception is not necessarily enhanced when color temperature
and luminance are restricted to a range typical of interior lighting
(i.e., Boyce and Rea, 1994; Chance, 1983; Halonen, 1993), we believe
the present effects are most likely attributable to color temperature
effects on arousal.