Cold Temperature Priming Affects Cognitive Control

“Metaphorical phrases like ‘coldly calculating,’ ‘heated response’ and ‘cool-headed’ actually have some scientific validity, as we demonstrate in our study,” Shalev said. “Previous research has focused on the actual effect of temperature on the psychological phenomenon known as ‘cognitive control,’ but this is the first time we were able to measure the effects of perceived temperature.” Cognitive control is the process by which goals or plans influence behavior and involves the ability to deliberately inhibit responses to maximize the long-term best interests of the individual.

Along with Dr. Shalev, the other researchers were Prof. Nachshon Meiran of BGU’s Department of Psychology and their student Eliran Halali, now a faculty member at Bar-Ilan University’s psychology department. The researchers conducted two experiments. In the first, 87 students performed an “anti-saccade task” (involving a rapid movement of the eye between fixation points), which requires looking in the opposite direction of a moving object and measures cognitive control. In the second experiment, 28 female students were asked to perform the same anti-saccade task, but this time were asked to physically imagine themselves in a picture of winter scenery, a temperature neutral concrete street or a sunny landscape depicted as the background image in the test.

“The results indicated that those viewing the cold landscape did better and that even without a physical trigger, cognitive control can be activated through conceptual processes alone,” wrote Shalev.

The researchers also examine the possibility that there is a common explanation for the relation of temperature and cognitive control with social proximity. “While warmth signaling promotes a relaxed attitude, cool signals alertness and possible need for greater cognitive control,” the study concludes.

Judy Siegel-Itzkovich