Staring at Bright Colors Will Make You Smarter, Happier

Gazing at bright yellow sunflowers can boost your brainpower and lift your mood.

Researchers at the University of Essex in England found that colors affect our memory, mental agility, reaction times and our physical strength.

Volunteers who were shown sunny shades scored up to 25 percent higher in tests of mental agility than those who were exposed to dull, dreary shades of gray.

When the volunteers were shown brighter colors, their hand-eye coordination increased 20 percent and physical strength by nine percent.

The scientists found that vibrant reds increased confidence and lifted depression, while intense shades of blue made the participants feel calmer.

“This shows that prescribing yourself a dose of color could not only prove the perfect antidote to the winter blues, it could also make you smarter and better able to remember things,” said lead researcher Duncan Smith.

This study may explain why so many people suffer from season affective disorder, in which a person becomes depressed in winter months when there is a lack of sunlight.

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