the physiology and psychology of colour - tibbthe physiology and psychology of colour dr linda mayer...
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ThePhysiologyand
PsychologyofColour
DrLindaMayerandProfRashidBhikha
July2014
Coloursprovokeemotionalfeelingsandtheyarepartofeverything,fromnatureandrainbowstoman-madecreations.Colourshaveaphysiological,psychologicalandsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeingandstatusintheworld;fromthepositivestimulatingeffectsofwarmcolours,tothementalrelaxationandsoothingeffectsofcoolcolours.
Colourssetthemoodandtoneoftheenvironmentbyimpactingonone’ssensesandaffectingone’sperceptionofthesymbolicmeaningwhichisbeingportrayed.Itisameansofcommunicatingone’sfeelingsandself-expression,anditiswellknownforitsbiologicalattraction.
Anumberofstudieshaveelaboratedontherelationshipbetweenthehumanbodyandcolours.Lightisenergy,andcolourisconsideredtobetheinteractionofenergyandmatter.Thereisaspecificwavelength,frequency,andenergyforeachcolour.Einsteinmaintainedthatthehumanbodyworksinharmonywiththeelectromagnetic/energysystemoftheuniverse.1
“Everythinginlifeisvibration”(AlbertEinstien)
ThePhysiologyofColour
Theautonomicnervoussystem(ANS)functionsinvoluntarilyasitcontrolsthenervoussystemaswellasregulatingthemusclesoftheheartandsmoothmuscles.2
Smoothmusclesareresponsibleforcontractingtheholloworgans,suchasthebladder,gastrointestinaltractandthebloodvessels.3
TheANSisconsideredtoplayanintegralpartinhomeostasisduetotheregulationofbloodpressure,contractionofholloworgans,gastrointestinalresponsestofood,focusingofthe
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eyes,aswellastemperatureandsweating.Coloursgenerateelectricalimpulsesandmagneticcurrents,orfieldsofenergythatactivatethebiochemicalandhormonalprocessesinthehumanbody.1Arecentdiscoveryidentifiedthattheretino-hypothalamictractleadsdirectlyfromtheretinatothehypothalamus,whichlinkscolourstotheANS.
TheANSregulatesthesympatheticandtheparasympatheticsystems,bothofwhichhaveoppositefunctions,namely,redisenergetic;blueissedating,andgreenmediatesbetweenboththesympatheticandparasympatheticnervoussystems.4
Redsimulatestheposteriorhypothalamusandthereforethesympatheticnervoussystem.Redandyellowprovokeanger.Allcoloursintheredspectrum–fromred/orangetoyellow,haveastimulatingeffect.4
Thesympatheticnervoussystemcausesdilationofthebloodvesselswhichincreasesbloodflow,heartrateandbloodpressure.Thisresultsinasurgeofenergyintimesofemergencies,asinthe“fight-or-flight”response,preparingthebodyforstrenuousphysicalactivity.Thebodythusreceiveswell-oxygenatedbloodwhichisrichinnutrientsforthetissuesthatneedit,especiallytheskeletalmuscles.Theheartrateandbloodpressureisincreased,aswellasoxygencirculationtothevitalorgans.Liverglycogenisconvertedintoglucoseandperistalsisofthegastrointestinaltract(digestionandsalivation)istemporarilyinhibited.5
Italsostimulatesbloodclottingwhenwoundedtominimisethelossofblood.Pupilsizeandperipheralvisionisimproved.Thesymptomsandillnessesassociatedwithsympatheticnervoussystemdominancearethoseoffight/flight,andinclude:hypertension,hypercholesterolemia,fastarrhythmias,heartdisease,type1diabetes,anxiety,panicattacks,hypervigilance,andpoorsleep.6
Colourswhichstimulatethecirculation,suchasred,orangeandyellow,willexertqualitiesofheat.Heatexpandsandrelaxesmuscles,loosenstensionandsoothespain.Howeverheatmayaggravateinflammation.
Bluestimulatestheanteriorhypothalamus,whichcontainsthemainregulatingpartoftheparasympatheticnervoussystem.Thismeansthatallcoloursinthebluishspectrum,fromblue/greentoblueandviolet,normallyhaveasedating,digestion-activating,sleep-inducingeffect.4
Theparasympatheticnervoussystemcausescontractionofthebloodvesselswhichdeceasesbloodflow,resultinginadecreaseoftheheartrateandbloodpressure.Italsocausesrelaxationofthemuscleswhichhelptoconserveenergyduringrest.Italsoregulatesthebasicfunctionsofthebodysuchasdigestionandurination.Stimulationoftheparasympatheticnervoussystemcanbesummarizedastherestanddigestresponse,asthisreturnsthebodyfunctionsbacktonormal:bloodpressurelowers,heartrateslows
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down,gastrointestinalperistalsisisturnedonagainandtheliverstartsproducingnewglycogen.5
Thesalivaryglands,gastricandintestinalmotilityarestimulatedwhichfacilitatesswallowing,ingestionandabsorptionoffoodandnutrients.Thechemicalbreakdownoffoodintheintestineispromotedbyenzymesoftheexocrineglandsofthepancreas.Thestorageofnutrientmoleculeswithinthetissuesisenabledbythereleaseofinsulinfromthepancreaticislets.Theparasympatheticnervoussystemenablesthecontractionoftheurinarybladderwhichresultsinurination.Italsocontrolscontractionofthepupilsoftheeyessothatthelenscanadaptfornearvision.2
Colourswhichsuppressthecirculation,suchasvioletandbluewillexertqualitiesofcoldness.Coldcontractsandicereducesinflammation,soit'sgoodforarthritisormusclestrainsfromaninflammatorynature.Howevercoldmaycausecramping.
SirIsaacNewton’sPrismofColours
(Left):NewtonandtheColourSpectrum.(Right):VisibleandUltravioletSpectroscopy.8
SirIsaacNewtonprovedthat,bysettingupaprismnearhiswindow,itprojectedaspectrumofcolours.Thediagramaboveontheleftshowsthatlightenterstheprismfromthetopright,andisrefractedbytheglass.7Thediagramaboveontherightshowsthatvioletisbentmorethantheyellowandred,sothecoloursseparate.Heconcludedthatwhitelightismadeupofsevendifferentcolouredrays.8
TheFourQualitiesofColour
(9)Thisdiagramdepictswarmhues(fromyellowtoredviolet)andthecoolhues(fromgreentopurple).Thecolourredisawarmercolourthan
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magenta,becauseredisclosertoorange;butbotharewarmcoloursincomparisontoviolet.9
1. Hueisgenerallydefinedasasourcecolour,oneofthetwelvebasiccoloursonthecolourwheel.Knowingtheroothueallowsonetomixthecolourthatheorshesees,usingabasicpalette.
2. Valueisthelightnessordarknessofthecolourrelativetowhite,black,andgrey.3. Intensityisthebrightnessordullnessofacolour,oftendeterminedbytheamount
ofwhiteorcomplementhasbeenmixedwithit.Itismeasuredrelativetothebrightestcolourwheelhuethatisclosesttothecolour.Oftenthewordschromaandsaturationareusedinterchangeablywithintensity.
4. Temperature,“warm”coloursofred,yellowandorange,or“cool”coloursofblueandviolet.10
Primary,SecondaryandTertiaryColours
(11)
PrimaryColoursarethebuildingblocksforallotherhues,andcannotbecreatedbymixinganyotherpigments.Theyareblue,yellow,andred.
SecondaryColoursareeachcreatedfrommixingtwooftheprimarycolours.Theyare
orange,green,andviolet.Liketheprimarycolours,theyareequidistantfromoneanotheronthecolourwheel.
TertiaryColoursareformedbymixingaprimaryandsecondarycolour.Theyareyellow-green,yellow-orange,red-orange,red-violet,blue-violetandblue-green.11
Newtonclaimedthatcertaincolourswouldclashtogetheriftheywereindirectoppositiontoeachother,suchasredandpurple,oryellowandgreen.InTibbopposingqualitiescannotexisttogethereither,asnothingcanbepositiveandnegative,hotandcold,moistanddryatthesametime.Therelationshipofheat,moistness,coldnessanddrynesshasadirectbearingonthehealthstatusofanindividual.Heatisgenerallymorefavourablethancoldformaintainingtheproperbalanceandgeneralhealthofthebody.12Healthwillonlybemaintainedaslongastheoverallqualityofthehumoursisinharmonywiththeoverallqualityoftheindividual’stemperament.
TheVisualPathway
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Colourisapropertyofasurfaceorsubstanceresultingfromabsorptionofcertainoftheincidentlightrays,andreflectionofothers,fallingwithintherangeofwavelengthsadequatetoexcitetheretinalreceptors….betweeninfraredandultraviolet.13
Colourvisionbeginswithphotoreceptorsintheeyeswhichconvertlightinformationintoelectricalsignalsinthebrain.Rodsarereceptivetotheamountsoflight,andconesaresensitivetocolours.Eachcolourhasdifferentwavelengths,whichweseeasreflectedwavelengthsoflightfromconesandrodsintheeyes.
Theopticnervetravelsfromtheretina,pastthepituitaryglandviathetemporallobetotheoccipitallobeofthebrain,wherethispartofthevisualsystemisintouchwiththeconsciouspartofourbrainoftheenvironment.
Thecolouroftheirisisdeterminedbytheamountofmelaninitcontains;thedarkertheeyes,themoremelaninandthemorelightisabsorbed,aslightwavespassthroughtheeye,andthelesslightisavailabletoreflectwithintheeye.Thepathwayoflighttothebrainishighlightedasfollows:
• Lightisrefractedbythecorneaandentersthechamberoftheeyethroughthepupil.
• Theirisdilatesinbrightlightandconstrictsindimlight.
• Lightpassesthroughthelensandtheimageisinvertedontheretina.
• Lightisabsorbedbyphotoreceptors,whichformsintopatternsofelectricalsignals,whicharetransmittedviatheopticnervetothevisualcortexofthebrain.
• Lightpassesfromtheretinalnervegangliontothehypothalamus.Thefunctionsofthebodyareregulatedbythehypothalamusandthepituitaryofthebrain.
• Theopticnervefibrestransmitnerveimpulsesfromthebraintothespinalcord,fromwheretheimpulsestraveltothepinealgland.Thepinealglandisalsoknownasthe‘lightmeter’ofthebody,whichinterpretsinformationthatonesees.14
OpticalIllusions
Acolourcontrastisanillusorytingeofcomplementaryhueorbrightnessinducedbyavividhueorluminanceontheareasurroundingitinthevisualfield.13Thewavelengthsoflighttravelatdifferentspeedsthroughdifferentmediums.Lightwavestravelslowerinwaterthanintheair,andbendwhentheymovefromtheairtothewater.Forexample,astickwillappeartolookbrokeninaglassofwater,andafingerwillappeartolooklarger.Differentcoloursarecreatedfromthereflectionandabsorptionoflight.15Itismoredifficulttotellapartvaryingshadesofthesamecolour,astherearenotsomanywordswhichassignstothesedifferentshades.
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Anafterimageisatypeofopticalillusioninwhichanimagecontinuestoappearbrieflyevenafterexposuretotheactualimagehasended,whichcaneitherbepositiveornegativeafterimages.Forexample:
• PositiveafterimageIfonestaresataverybrightlylitimageorsceneforabout30seconds,onewillexperienceapositiveafterimageforafewseconds,afterclosingone’seyes,astheimagewillstillbeseenastheoriginaloneinthesamecoloursandbrightness.
• NegativeafterimageThecoloursthatoneseesareinvertedfromtheoriginalimage.Forexample,ifonestaresforabout30secondsataredimage,onewillseeagreenafterimage.16
TheTemperatureofColour
Colourtemperaturehasbeendescribedmostsimplyasamethodofdescribingthecolourcharacteristicsoflight,usuallyeitherwarm(yellowish)orcool(bluish),andmeasuringitindegreesofKelvin(°K).17Thetemperatureofredcolourisabout1800k,theyellowishwhite–similartothemiddaycolourwhenthesunisshiningis6000k.Thebluecolourtemperatureamountsto10000k.
Thekelvinscaleisanabsolutetemperaturescaleinwhichtheunitofmeasurement,thekelvin,isequivalenttothedegreeCelsius;theicepointthereforebeingat273,15kelvinsandtheboilingpointofwaterbeing373,15kelvins.13
Thetemperatureofcolourisitsperceivedwarmthorcoolness.Coolcolours(withabluerbase)tendtorecede,whilewarmcolourtemperatures(intheredandorangefamilies)areperceivedasadvancing.19
Thisiswhyredisusedtosignaldanger,stopsignsandtheRedCrosssign;whereasmountainsfadinginthedistanceappeartobeinshadesofblue.
“Bluemountainsaredistantfromus,andsocoolcoloursseemtorecede”.J.W.vonGoethe
Tibb,however,placesemphasisonthequalityofthecoloursanditsrelationwiththetemperaments,aswellasitscorrespondingeffectsonthebodybytheautonomicnervoussystem.Eachfoodanddrinkhasadegreeofheatorcoldness,whicheitherpromotesorslowsdownmetabolism.Theheatingfoodsarenecessaryforthebodytoachieveandmaintainacompletemetabolicdigestionoffoods.20
Jungutilisedtheprinciplesofyangandyininthesymbolicpowerofcolouranditssignificanceintheexpressionofemotionsthroughpainting.Thecoloursofyangarewarm,
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colours,suchasred,orange,yellowandmagenta.Thecoloursofyinarecool,colours,suchasblue,violet,turquoiseandgreen.Babbittrelatedyangcoloursasbeingmagnetic,whereasyincoloursareelectric.Bothyangandyinexertoppositeandcomplementaryqualities;eitherenhancingordiminishing,warmingorcooling,andactiveorpassive,respectively.22Jungbelievedthatcolourenabledpeopletoexplorethedeep,unconsciouspartofthepsycheandtointegrateitwiththeconsciouspartinordertoachieve‘wholeness’.
“Temperatureisanattributeofcolourorcharacteristicofapigment.”Artistsrefertotemperaturebythedegreeofwarmthorcoolnessmeasuredwhenonecolourstandsinrelationshiptoanothercolour,creatingameasureofcontrast.21Temperatureisalsoameasureoftheaveragekineticenergyduetothermalequilibriumwithothersystems.13Whenthetemperatureofcoloursisincreased,coloursmovefromthelongmetricwavetotheshortmetricwave,namelyfromredcolourtotheyellowcolourthentothebluecolourthentothevioletthentheultravioletcolourandfinallytheblackcolour.Finally,whenthetemperatureincreasesmuchmore,coloursturndarkordeeptilltheybecomeblack.
Avicennabelievedthatcancerisatumourwhicharisesfrom‘burning’oftheblackbilehumour,duetotheincreaseofheatwhichhasbecomepathological.Healsodescribedthatatumourswellingisamanifestationofthe‘boiling’oftheblackbileatitsjunctionwiththeorgan,andthatthecrabliketracksofthecanceroustumourtendstowardblackness,greenandheat.Frostbiteinitiallyappearsdarkredincolouronthehandsandfaceafterexposuretosub-zerotemperatures,advancingtoblackintheadvancedstages.20
Gerard’sresearchinthe1970’srevealedthatexposuretowarmcoloursincreasedrespiratorymovements,frequencyofeyeblinks,corticalactivationandpalmarconductance(arousaloftheANS).Warmcoloursconsistentlyshowedamorepronouncedpatternofstimulation.Coolcoloursshowedoppositeeffectsbyactingasarelaxantandtranquilizerforanxiousindividuals,loweringbloodpressure,providingrelieffromtension,alleviatingofmusclespasmsandreducingeyeblinkfrequency.1
Whydoesthecolourredappeartobewarmerthanblue?
Whenwegetwarmmorebloodiscirculatingatthesurfaceoftheskinwhichgivesitarosycolour.Whenwegetcoldthebodytriestoconserveheatbydivertingbloodawayfromthesurfaceoftheskininordertosupplymorebloodtothevitalorgans,givingtheskinabluishappearance.
Ourperceptionofcolourmayalsoberelatedtooureverydayexperienceofhowweviewhotandcoldcolours.Theflamesofafireappeartobeyellowandorange,astheburningprocessbeaksupbondsinthemoleculesofcarbonandhydrogenwhichemityellowlight,whichishotanddry.Iftherearemoreparticlesofsoot,itwillactlikeblackbodyparticles,emittingthecolourofred.Itisnotaseasytoseeobjectswhichhavebeenexposedtovery
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hightemperatures;thereforethecolourblueisnotseenasoften.23Themolecularpropertiesofwatermakeitbluish-greenincolour,whichiscoldandmoist.
Oxygensupplyinfluencesthecolouroftheflame.Alow-oxygenfirecontainslotsofuncombustedfuelparticlesandwillgiveoffayellowglow.Ahigh-oxygenfireburnsblue.Socandleflamesareblueatthebottombecausethat’swheretheytakeupfreshair,andyellowatthetopbecausetherisingfumesfrombelowpartlysuffocatetheupperpartoftheflame.24
Blueflamesarenotalwayshotterthanyellowflames,becausethecolouroflightemittedbytheflamedependsonwhichatomsandmoleculesareintheflame.Eachatomormoleculehascertainspecialfrequencies(colours)atwhichitabsorbsandemitslight.Sometimesthat’smoreimportantthanthetemperatureoftheflameinsettingthecolour.25
ManifestationsofColourChanges
Variouschemicalcompoundscanbeusedtoalterthecolourinaflame,asisusedinfireworks,forexample:redcoloursisobtainedbyusinglithiumandstrontium;orangewithcalcium,yellowwithsodium;greenwithbariumandcopperandhalides;bluewithcopper;violet/purplewithpotassium,andwhite/silverwithaluminium,magnesiumandtitanium.26
Left:Yellowflamefromsodiumchloride.Middle:GreenflamefromBorax.Right:VioletflamefromPotassiumchloride.26
IcebergsareformedfromtheglacialicethathasbuiltupfromsnowfallingontheAntarcticcontinentovermillennia.Thisiceconsistsofpurefreshwater.Asseawaterisdrawndeepundertheiceshelvesbytheoceaniccurrents,itbecomesextremelycold.Undercertainconditionsitcanfreezetothebaseoftheiceshelf.Becausethisiceisformedfromseawater,itdiffersfromthefreshwatericeoftheiceshelf.Often,thefrozenseawatercontainsorganicmatterandminerals,causingittohaveadifferentcolourandtexture.Thusicebergsbrokenofffromtheiceshelvesmayshowlayersofthepureblue-whiteglacialiceandgreenericeformedfromfrozenseawater.Asthebergsbecomefragmentedandsculptedbythewindandwaves,thedifferentcolouredlayerscandevelopstrikingpatterns.27
TheTransformationofLightWaves
Themolecularstructureandpigmentationofeachobjectenablesthelightraystobemixed,absorbedandreflectedinvariousspeedsandintensities.Objectswhichabsorbmorelightraysandthusreflectlesslightbacktotheeyes,appeartobedarkeranddeeperincolour,whereaslighterobjectsreflectmorelight,appeartobelighterandmoreintenseincolour.Atransparentobjectwilltransmitlight.15If,forexample,oneholdsawhitepieceofpaperononesideofaglassfilledwithredliquid,thelightwilltransmitaredcolouroftheliquid
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ontothepaper.Anobjectiscolouredbecauseofthelightitreflects,andalltheothercoloursareabsorbedintothatspecificobject.28
Thefoetusinthewombisabletodistinguishbetweenlightanddark.Atbirthinfantscanseeshapes,buttheycanonlyseeblack,whiteandgrey.Afterafewweeksoflifetheyareabletoseethefirstprimarycolourofred,andbytheageof3monthstheyareabletoseethefullspectrumofcolours.
ThePsychologyofColour
Individualcolourpreferenceshaveahugeimpactonthebody,mindandsoul,aswellasontheeconomyingeneral,duetoparticularassociationswhichpeopleattachtothemeaningsofcolours.Colourshavedeeplyrootedemotionalresponseswhichinfluencedecisionswhichpeoplemake,fromthecarstheydrivetotheclothestheywear.Warmcoloursincludered,orangeandyellow,whichevokeemotions,rangingfromfeelingsofwarmthandcomfort,happinessandvibrancy,tofeelingsofangerandhostility.Blue,greenandpurplecoloursareknownascoolcolours,whichareoftendescribedascalmingandsoothing,butcanalsoevokefeelingsofsadnessorindifference.29
Coloursreflectdifferentemotions,moods,attitudes,personalities,characteristicsandmessages.Coloursmayinspire,energiseandcreateasenseofcalmness,happiness,sadness,uneasiness,oranger.Itcanbeattentionseeking,provokepassion,alertoneintheeventofdanger;itcandenoteloyalty,compassion,confidenceandateamplayer;itcandenotepower,efficiency,eleganceandstyle;oritcanportrayasenseofcheerfulness,playfulnessandexcitability.
Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour,forexample:brightcoloursreflectmorelight,asinthecolourofyellowwhichmayover-stimulatethemind,causingstrainandirritability.Howevertherightshadeofyellowpaintedonthewallscanpositivelystimulatethemindinaclassroomsetting.Converselydarkcoloursabsorbmorelight,asinthecoloursofblack,purple,violetandblue,haveasedating,digestion-activating,sleep-inducingeffect.Goetheunderstoodtherelationshipbetweencolourandemotions,asdidLuschner,thelatter,whobelievedthatcolourpreferencesrevealedaperson’sbasicpersonalitytraits.Heindicatedthatapersonwhohadapreferenceforthecolourofredhasanassertivepersonalitytype,whoisoutgoingandwithastrongwill,asintheSanguinous/Bilioustemperament.Conversely,apersonwhodislikesredindicatesthatheisshyandpossiblywithdrawnfromsociety,whichmaybelinkedtotheMelancholic/Phlegmatictemperament.Thecolourclothingthatonewearsalsoreflectsone’semotions,andatthesametimeitportraystootherpeoplehowonewouldliketobeperceived,suchasconfident,loyal,passionateorateamplayer.Veryoftenpeoplecometoworkwearingthesamecolours.Thismaybeareflexionofthesharingofemotions,personalinformationandworkissues,
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whichsubconsciouslyaretranslatedintopatternsofpsychologicalinterpretationoftheemotionselicitedbythemilieuoftheworkenvironment.
AccordingtoSheilaDicks,aprofessionalstylecoach,“thecoloursyouwearinaprofessionalsettingareaboutsomuchmorethanmerefashionorstyle.Colourssendsubconsciousmessages,andcanaffectyourmood,aswellasthemoodoftheworkersaroundyou."30“Mooddressersarepeoplewhoarein-tunewiththeiremotionsanddressaccordingly”.31
TheInfluenceofHormonesonMood
Photoelectricenergyinfluencesthefunctioningofthepituitaryglandwhichcontrolsthehormonalsystemandhencecopingmechanisms,emotionalandstressrelations.32
Thepinealglandinthebrainproducesthehormonesofserotoninandmelatonin.Serotoninisaneurotransmitterinthebrain,whichhasbeenlinkedwithmentaldisturbancessuchasschizophreniaandhallucinations.Itisastimulantwhichisproducedduringdaylight(yellowofthesympatheticnervoussystemandtheBilioustemperament).Melatoninhasachemicalpathwaywhichenablesanorganismtorespondtolightandsynchronizebodilyfunctioningwithdiurnalandseasonalvariations.Itislinkedwithsleep(blueoftheparasympatheticnervoussystemandthePhlegmatictemperament),anditincreaseswhenitisdark,butitalsohasadepressiveeffect1(toomuchbluecausesdepression).Wheredaylightandartificiallightingintheinteriorofbuildingsareinadequate,thenaturalsuppressionofmelatoninproductionduringthedayfailsandmaybeaccompaniedbyfeelingsofdepression.32
Studiesonsleepdisorders,depression,seasonalaffectivedisorderandpost-traumaticstressdisordersuggestedthatsigns,symptoms,andbiologicmarkersassociatedtothesepsychiatricdisordersareduetomarkedalterationsinmelatoninandserotoninlevels.33
NeurophysiologyofColour
Modernneuropsychologymaintainsthatmemoriesarecolour-codedandthatdistinctfrequenciesofcolourcanreactivatesynapsesinthebrainwhichwerepreviouslyblocked.Repressedmemoriesofaphysicaloremotionaltraumaareheldinthehippocampusandamygdalaofthelimbicsystemofthebrain.Thesememoriescanbeaccessedandtreatedwiththecorrectcolourwavelength,with,forexamplewearingcolourglasseswiththerecommendedcolour,andothertreatmentoptions.
Colourscanhavetwodistinctandoftenoppositeeffects.Becauseofthecolor-codingofemotions,treatmentwithcolourcaneithertriggertheexpectedcolourwithaphysiologicalreaction,orenablethereleaseofarelatedcolourcodedemotionorproblem.Forexample:bluelightwillusuallyhaveasedativeeffect,butifapersonwasmolestedbyhismotherwhenhewasatoddler,andshewaswearingabluebraatthetime,bluemaycausesympatheticarousal(distress)inthispersonuntilthetraumaishealed.
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Thecomplexionconstantlychangesaccordingtothefluctuationoftheemotionsandthedifferenceinthestateofhealth,forexample:blushingorextremeangermayturnthefacereddishincolour;cyanosishasabluishcolour,andjaundicehasayellowcomplexion.
InTibbwarmthisassociatedwithblood,fire,lifeforceenergy,growth,movement,joy,aswellasanoutgoing,enthusiasticandoptimistictemperament.Aglowingcomplexionfromafeverisalsoassociatedwithwarmth.Fromanemotionalperspective,warmcoloursofredandyellowareextrovert,inviting,happyandcosy,andstimulatethebody,suchastheSanguinousandBilioustemperaments.Warmcoloursarebestusedinconditionswhichrequireenergising,suchasindepressionandlethargy,butnotinconditionssuchasADHDorhypomania,whichwouldfurtherexacerbateenergylevels.
InTibbcoldnesshascharacteristicswhicharecompletelyoppositetowarmth,namelythoseofphlegmandblackbile,withacompassionateandperfectionistictemperament.Coldnessisalsoassociatedwithdeath.Thecoolercoloursofblue,violetandgreenareintrovert,suchasthePhlegmaticandMelancholictemperaments,whichwouldbemoresuitablefordisordersofhyperactivityandanxiety.
TheColourofEmotions
Fromaphysiologicalperspectivewarmcoloursenhancehumanmetabolism,increaserespirationrate,raisebloodpressureandincreasecirculation;whereascoolercolourshaveantisepticandanti-inflammatoryqualities,andwhichslowsdownmetabolism,andinducessleep.
FromaTibbperspective,joyandhappiness,aswellasangerandaggression,havequalitiesofheat,whichislinkedwiththeBiliousTemperamentandthecolourofyellow,whichisassociatedwithafierytemperament.Sadnessisoppositetojoy,andhasqualitiesofcold,whichisinkedtotheMelancholicTemperamentandthecolourpurple/violet,whichisassociatedwiththeseriousandpessimistictemperament.Fearistheoppositeofanger,andhascoldqualities,whichislinkedwiththePhlegmaticTemperamentandthecolourblue,andwhichisassociatedwithitscalm,controlledandeventemperament.
Themindandemotionsarethemostpowerfulenergiesonearth,andpeopleassociatecertaincoloursandlanguagewithemotions.
• “I’vegottheblues,”or‘downintheblues’(blueslowsusdownandmakesalreadyslowpeopledepressed.asinthePhlegmatictemperament).
• “Iaminablackmood”(asinMelancholictemperament)• “Iamgreenwithenvy”(envyisaliveremotionandthecorrectcolouris
yellow/green.• “Red-Hotlove”(redbringsoutemotioninpeople-includingsexualpassion).4‘Inthe
pinkofhealth’;‘lookingattheworldthroughrose-colouredspectacles’;‘redcarpettreatment’;‘and‘businessisinthered’.34
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ConclusionColourhasaphysiological,psychologicalandsocialimpactonaperson’shealth,wellbeingandstatusintheworld;fromthepositivestimulatingeffectsofwarmcolourstothementalrelaxationandsoothingeffectsofcoolcolours.Colourssetthemood,stateofmindandtoneforanyenvironment,situationorhealingtherapies.Colourinfluencesouremotions,ouractionsandhowwerespondtovariouspeople,situationsandideas.Redsandyellowsstimulatethesensesandproducefeelingsandthoughtsofwarmthandcomfort,whereasbluesandviolets/purplesareassociatedwithcoldness.Everycolourhasitsownspecificwavelengthandfrequency,fromstimulatingandenergeticqualities,tocalmingandmoresubduedones.Thisgeneratesspecificbiochemicalandhormonalresponses,whichinfluencethephysiologyandautonomicnervoussystem.Certaincoloursaltermoodstatesandcanchangepatternsofbehaviour.Theuseofcolourtherapycanbeappliedtothebodytoalteritsfunctioning.
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