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Hot weather doesn’t just make us feel uncomfortable; it can also affect how well our brain works.
A new study by MIT researcher Benjamin Krebs shows that higher outdoor temperatures can make it harder for people to solve math problems and perform other mental tasks.
The study looked at data from over 31,000 people who played a mental arithmetic game and found that hot weather slowed down their thinking.
The study, published on June 4, 2024 in the journal Environmental and Resource Economics, gathered data from people who regularly played a game called Raindrops on the Lumosity platform, a popular online brain-training tool.
In this game, players must solve math problems quickly to prevent the problems from “falling” off the screen.
The game challenges both speed and accuracy, making it a good measure of cognitive performance.
The researchers analyzed more than 1.15 million games played by over 31,000 people from different regions in the U.S. between 2015 and 2019.
The participants had a median age of 56, with 61% being female, and were spread across the U.S. in both “cold ZIP codes” (12,708 participants) and “hot ZIP codes” (18,321 participants) based on local climate data.
The results showed a clear trend: when the temperature outside rose above 16.5°C (about 62°F), people started to struggle.
For every 1°C (about 1.8°F) increase in temperature, their performance dropped by 0.13%.
While this might not seem like a lot, it adds up, especially for those facing multiple hot days in a row.
The heat affected participants by slowing down their ability to think quickly, resulting in fewer correct answers and more time spent solving each problem.
“The driver for the lower performance,” Krebs writes, “seems to be slower problem-solving rather than higher error proneness.”
The outside temperature matters even if people are indoors because of the combined effects of physiological stress and environmental conditions.
Factors like inadequate air conditioning, ventilation, or insulation can allow the heat to impact performance.
The paper also mentions that real-world indoor environments may not always provide perfect protection from outside temperatures.
The study found that not everyone is affected equally by the heat.
People living in colder regions, where the climate is usually cooler, were hit harder by higher temperatures than those living in warmer areas.
This is because people in colder climates are less used to hot weather and may find it more difficult to adapt when the temperature rises.
For example, if you’re used to living in a place where summers are mild, a sudden hot day could make it harder for you to focus in class or complete a math test.
On the other hand, if you live in a warmer climate, you may not notice the heat affecting you as much, because your body is better adapted.
For students, especially those preparing for important exams or working on projects, this study shows how important it is to stay cool during hot weather.
If you’re feeling sluggish or having a hard time concentrating on your schoolwork, the temperature outside could be to blame.
As climate change brings more hot days, it’s important to think about how this affects not only your physical health but also your mental performance.
Luckily, there are ways to combat the heat.
Staying hydrated, using fans, or finding air-conditioned places to study can help you stay sharp, even on the hottest days.
Taking short breaks to cool down and refocus can also make a big difference in how well you perform when temperatures rise.