Effects of the Light Environment in Elementary School Classrooms on Students’ Cognitive Performance and Galvanic Skin Indicators

Abstract

Elementary school students, as primary users of classrooms, are directly affected by the lighting environment, which influences their visual comfort and cognitive performance. This study investigates the changes in cognitive performance under five classroom illumination levels to optimize lighting conditions. Cognitive performance was assessed by combining physiological measurements with a novel index: the ratio of correctness to reaction time. The results show gender-specific sensitivity to lighting, with female students being more responsive than males. By integrating subjective questionnaires and objective physiological indicators, the study identified an optimal desktop illuminance range of 600–800 lx for maximizing cognitive performance. These findings provide a practical approach for determining optimal classroom lighting based on both cognitive and physiological data.