Decoding the Impact of Low‐Saturation Color Background on Working Memory: Insights From fNIRS , Eye Tracking, and Subjective Assessments

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of low‐saturation background colors on working memory through a detailed multimodal analysis involving functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), eye tracking, and subjective assessments. The aim is to identify colors that enhance or impede cognitive performance and uncover the physiological mechanisms involved. Thirty‐eight participants completed a 2‐back working memory task under nine different background color conditions, during which cognitive performance, brain activation patterns, and eye movement data were systematically recorded. The findings indicate that low‐saturation cyan backgrounds significantly enhance cognitive performance by facilitating faster response times and higher accuracy, suggesting these colors help reduce cognitive strain. Conversely, red and purple backgrounds appear to increase cognitive load, slowing response times, and reducing accuracy. Increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was observed under cyan and blue backgrounds, correlating with improved cognitive metrics. While statistical analyses confirmed the impact of low‐saturation background color on cognitive and physiological responses, the correlation analyses suggested a more nuanced relationship. Longer response times were associated with higher accuracy, especially in less optimal color conditions, indicating a possible compensatory mechanism to maintain performance. These findings highlight the potential of strategic color use to enhance cognitive function, with important implications for optimizing work and learning environments to more effectively support cognitive task performance. Further investigations should widen the scope of colors studied and consider different cognitive tasks to deepen the understanding of the role of color in cognitive environments, aiming to refine design strategies for optimal cognitive support.