Seeing stars, it dreams of eternity. Hearing birds, it makes music. Smelling flowers, it is enraptured. Touching tools, it transforms the earth. But deprived of these sensory experiences, the brain withers and dies."
This quote from Ronald Kotulak, author of Inside the Brain, addresses two of the most profound discoveries from the recent revolution in neurobiology. First, the brain is a dynamic entity, continually developing its genetic chemical blueprint with somatic sensory input from the environment. Second, the brain is fed and fueled directly through the five senses: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory (taste) and kinesthetic. The quality of the food supply delivered through these channels has a profound impact on its ability to operate at peak performance.
Among the most exciting developments of this revolution is an evolving partnership between neuroscience and the business community, directed at harnessing the powers of sensory input for the workplace. Practical, evidence-based strategies for each of the five senses create the possibility of "win-win" designs for optimal brain performance. Organizations willing to apply the latest findings
can increase employee productivity,
while simultaneously enhancing the psychological quality of the workday experience. This article will begin a three-part series introducing sensory input solutions for nourishing the brain at work.
Managing quantity
Each of us absorbs constant sensory data through a barrage of visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory stimuli in the environment. These sensations compete for attention with the executive functions of the prefrontal cortex, which include creativity, analysis, organization and sustained task performance. In order to enhance brain performance, it is critical for employers to ensure that the quantity of sensory input in the workplace is not disrupting the productive mental activity of staff. In general, tolerance levels may vary, with extraverts having higher thresholds for input than introverts. The following applications can be helpful in optimizing levels of sensory input:
• Talk with workers to determine their awareness of any sensory distractions (noises, glares, smells, tastes, temperatures or other physical discomforts) that take their minds off work. Even a few minutes of lost productivity per day can be costly when multiplied by several employees.
• Include questions about sensory distractions in the annual satisfaction survey and take steps to eliminate those identified.
• Conduct a walkthrough, imagining yourself trying to function in your employees' work stations; try to identify sensory distractions that might cause them to lose focus or make errors.
• Remember that the peripheral nervous systems of introverts and extraverts differ substantially and that these two personality types have different thresholds for stimulation. Bright lights, loud noise, and constant conversation can quickly exhaust introverts, who are highly sensitive to input and subject to becoming overwhelmed with relatively little sensation. Extraverts, by contrast, can tolerate and even thrive on higher levels of stimulation. In general, introverted work groups (such as engineers, computer professionals, accountants, librarians) will be most productive in quieter environments with some access to complete privacy. Extraverts may prefer a moderate level of hubbub for optimal brain functioning.
Let there be light
Light affects mood and alertness by shutting down melatonin, the sleep inducer. Deprivation in this area of sensory input impairs performance and can also lead to a form of depression (SAD) associated with greater periods of darkness in winter. Because brain alertness is critical to both safety and accuracy, the environment should always be well lit. Research on light in the workplace has determined that most indoor lighting is concentrated at the wrong end of the spectrum (red-orange), omitting the blue-green range most important to optimal alertness. Absence of this blue-green spectrum has been shown to contribute to measurable fatigue and eyestrain, as well as problem mood states.
"Daylighting," which incorporates both natural sunlight and full-spectrum light into workplace design, has been shown by research to be the most effective means of fostering alertness, learning, and accurate performance. This element of design is being incorporated by leading architectural schools and represents an important element in the future of the brain sensitive work environment. These practical applications can be useful to employers seeking to provide the highest quality of lighting for their workforce:
• Use the color rendering index (CRI) as a measure of the adequacy of artificial light. In this index, natural light equals 100. In practical terms, the higher the numerical light rating, the lower the need to take a color sample to a window in order to determine its exact shade. Local lighting companies can provide fluorescent bulbs with a CRI of 90 or above; those with lower CRI will be missing parts of the blue light spectrum essential for maximum alertness.
• Provide extra lighting for the night shift.
• Whenever possible, provide all employees with outside views to maximize the use of sunlight. When this is not feasible, advise employees to leave the building two or three times a day for 10 minutes of direct exposure to daylight.
• Provide high-intensity light boxes to facilitate maximum alertness when access to daylight is restricted by task requirements.
• Next month's article will continue bringing neuroscience to the workplace, with brain-friendly applications involving color, sound, and aroma.
Judith Humble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with 16 years of experience providing mental health services, training, and consultation to the business community. Judith can be reached at (859) 576-0002, or judith_humble@yahoo.com.