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Temperature discomfort impairs everyday cognition: a pilot study using smartwatch-based ecological momentary
Kimberly L Meidenbauer1, Catherine M Luna1, Phillip John Stilson1
1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Environmental Research Communications
|May 6, 2026
Summary
Feeling uncomfortably warm or distracted by temperature can negatively impact your cognitive performance and executive attention. This study shows how everyday thermal discomfort affects daily cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- High ambient temperatures are linked to adverse health outcomes, including cognitive decline.
- Research has focused on extreme heat, neglecting the impact of typical thermal discomfort on cognition.
- Cognitive function may be subtly impaired by non-extreme thermal conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using smartwatch-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study thermal discomfort and cognition.
- To investigate if thermal discomfort and distracting temperatures impair objective and subjective cognitive function.
- To explore the relationship between everyday thermal conditions and cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a smartwatch-based EMA design for real-time data collection.
- Assessed cognitive function using the N-back task (objective) and self-reported alertness (subjective).
- Examined the effects of thermal discomfort and distracting temperatures on cognitive measures.
Main Results:
- Thermal discomfort was associated with poorer performance on the N-back task.
- Distracting temperatures also correlated with lower N-back task scores.
- Observed an interaction between thermal discomfort and acclimatization, but no effect of time of day.
Conclusions:
- Deviations from comfortable temperatures can impair executive attention and cognitive control in daily life.
- The study highlights the utility of EMA combined with cognitive tasks for environmental psychology research.
- Smartwatch-based EMA is a feasible method for assessing real-world cognitive responses to environmental factors.
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