The Effect of Mental Effort on Subjective Assessments of Warmth

The experiment tested the hypothesis that optimal comfort temperatures are lower during intellectual activity than during recreational activity. 24 subjects of both sexes assessed the warmth and comfort of an environment during test and performance periods. Rest consisted largely of reading and conversation and the performance was of the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices. The air and mean radiant temperatures were 23°. Analysis of variance showed no difference between subjective assessments in rest and performance periods. The hypothesis is therefore not supported and it is thus possible to apply comfort data obtained from resting subjects to people engaged in intellectual activity.