Air quality in the office may affect our level of creativity at work, according to scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).
Working with global air filter manufacturer Camfil on a shared research project, the NTU scientists found in a study that high levels of volatile organic compounds—gases released from products such as detergents, pesticides, perfumes, aerosol sprays, and paint—affected the study participants’ creativity when they were asked to build 3D models with LEGO bricks.
Using a statistical analysis, the NTU team estimated that reducing total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) by 72% could improve a person’s creative potential by 12%.
TVOC is an indicator that refers to the volume of volatile organic compounds in the air. Indoor VOCs are emitted from interior decoration sources such as paints and carpets and household products such as detergents and air fresheners.
Recently published in Scientific Reports, the study findings shed light on the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) on our creative cognition, said the research team led by Assistant Professor Ng Bing Feng and Associate Professor Wan Man Pun.
“While most people would correctly associate indoor air quality with effects on the lungs, especially since we just emerged from a pandemic, our study shows that it could also have an impact on the mind and creative cognition, or the ability to use knowledge in an unconventional way,” said Ng. “Our findings suggest that relatively low TVOC levels, even if well within the accepted threshold, could impact an individual’s creative potential.”
“This could have serious consequences for industries that rely on creativity for the bulk of their work,” added Wan. “The findings also point to how making minor adjustments in the office, such as reducing the use of aroma diffusers or ensuring adequate ventilation, could positively impact employees and their productivity.”
The Study
Over six weeks, the researchers gathered data from a sample size of 87 undergraduate and postgraduate students in a controlled environment simulating an indoor workspace. Every week across three 40-minute sessions, the study participants read a summary of a global issue—such as climate change, mental health, and poverty—and then offered a solution by building a 3D model using LEGO bricks. The participants were then asked to give a written description and explanation for their models.
In each session, researchers varied the air quality of the workspace using different combinations of air filters contributed by Camfil. This varied the level of pollutants in the air, including carbon dioxide, PM2.5 (air pollutants less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter), and TVOC.
Ultimately, the NTU team’s statistical analysis of the participants’ average scores and IAQ data gathered from 18 sessions revealed that participants tended to turn in creative solutions with lower scores—an indicator of lower creative potential—when the workspace had higher TVOC levels.
Ng concluded, “The results from this study indicate that creativity levels can be linked to the concentration of pollutants in a room. Improving the air quality could be an economical solution to improve occupants’ creativity.”
Having uncovered a link between TVOC levels and creativity, the research team is now studying how TVOC and other indoor air pollutants affect cognitive processes by measuring participants’ brain activity.