Did you know that when humans see the color red, our muscles react faster and stronger? It is the conclusion of a new study published in the journal Emotion . The finding could have applications in sports and other activities where a brief boost to strength and speed is advantageous, but it should also be considered in others where this reaction can be unfavorable. " Red increases our physical reaction because we perceive it as a danger signal, " explains Andrew Elliot, a psychologist at the University of Rochester (USA) and co-author of the study. That causes more energy to be mobilized, but it also implies "distraction in tasks and worry," he adds. Therefore, it is counterproductive for motor skills and mental tasks. For example, if we face an opponent dressed in red in a game of chess, the result will be worse. Additionally, students exposed to the color red before a test perform worse, according to Elliot.
To reach this conclusion, Elliot conducted experiments with students in which he asked them to squeeze their hands as hard as possible when the word "squeeze" was displayed on a computer screen . The word was alternately displayed on a red, blue, or gray background. By measuring the applied force and the response speed, the researchers found that both increased when the color shown was red.
