As school starts back up I can’t help but notice how cold the classrooms are. This got me thinking; what is the ideal temperature for the classroom? In 2014, a study demonstrated that both extreme heat and extreme cold affect test scores. Students in a classroom that was 81 degrees scored an average of 72 percent. And Not much better, students in a 61 degree room scored an average of 76 percent. On the contrary, students scored an average of 90 percent when the classroom was 72 degrees.

So why do extreme temperatures affect our learning? Researchers determined that when your body is exposed to thermal discomfort, your brain is so distracted by the signals from your brain that you’re cold or hot it can’t concentrate. When in cold temperatures, your body is so busy trying to maintain a form of homeostasis, it makes it harder to focus on your school work. Homeostasis is a self-regulated process in which your body systems maintain stability while adjusting to external conditions. 

So in conclusion, if you feel extra distracted when you’re in a cold or hot classroom It is probably your body trying to regulate your temperature through homeostasis!