Main
Cognition and productivity in indoor environments
Experimental study on the impact of indoor air quality on creativity by Serious Brick Play method
A study at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, suggests that the volatile organic compound (VOC) content in our environment might play a crucial role in our ability to think creatively. The study aimed to objectively measure creative thinking by engaging participants in creative building activities using the Serious Brick Play method.
Researchers conducted repeated measurements of creativity on the same participants while switching the environmental chamber between six predefined sets of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) conditions. This allowed them to observe the effects of different TVOC levels on creative outcomes. The findings suggest that reducing TVOC levels by 71.9% (from an initial 1000 ppb) could enhance an individual's full creative potential by 11.5%.
The results were enlightening, as they demonstrated a noteworthy link between clean air and heightened creativity. Specifically, exposure to common indoor air pollutants had a tangible impact on creative performance. Clean air was found to facilitate imaginative thinking, while poor air quality seemed to hinder the creative process—which is why Healthy Indoors underscores the importance of measuring and understanding Indoor Air Quality to foster the best learning and creative environments.
In essence, the evidence from the study demonstrates that the air around us could be a silent catalyst for innovative thinking.
Discover the full research
Curious to dive deeper into the research behind these findings? Click the link below to access the original scientific publication and explore the full study in detail.- Source
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Publication
- Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio)
- Link
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42355-z