A recent study published in the journal Management Science has found that the quality of the air you breathe can affect your strategic decision-making skills. The research was conducted on chess players and showed that when the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM) in the air was increased, the players made a greater number of mistakes.
The study, which was conducted over three eight-week chess tournaments in Germany, recorded over 30,000 moves made by 121 players. The researchers used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze each move and detect any errors. The results showed that when the level of PM in the air increased by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the chances of chess players making a mistake increased by 2.1 percentage points and the severity of their errors increased by 10.8%.
Air Pollution and Your Brain: The Shocking Truth
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that air pollution contributes to millions of premature deaths worldwide each year. While it is well known that air pollution can lead to serious health problems, a growing field of research is exploring its cognitive effects. In this study, the researchers used sensors to record PM 2.5 levels in addition to carbon dioxide and temperature inside the tournament venues. The PM 2.5 levels ranged from 14 to 70 micrograms per cubic meter, which is similar to many urban areas. The results indicated that PM 2.5 was responsible for the lower performance of the chess players, with other variables such as temperature, CO2, and noise levels not showing a similar impact on player decisions.
Polluted Air More Than Just a Health Hazard: It Can Impact Your Intelligence Too
Fine particulate matter is an airborne mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets that contains various substances such as dust, soot, smoke, organic matter, and various chemicals. Most PM in the air comes from human activities such as power plants, vehicle use, and agriculture. The smallest group of PM, PM 2.5, which includes particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, can penetrate deeper into the airways and beyond. The study highlights the need for more research into the cognitive effects of air quality, as PMs can not only harm our health but also our ability to make strategic decisions.
I. The Impact of PM on Chess Performance
- Experiments conducted during the study showed that when the concentration of PM in the air was increased, chess players made a greater number of mistakes in games.
- The mistakes made were more serious in the presence of more polluted air.
- When the level of fine particles increased by 10 μg/m3, the chances of chess players making an error increased by 2.1 percentage points, while the severity of their errors increased by 10.8%.
II. What is Fine Particulate Matter (PM)?
- PM is an airborne “cocktail” of solid particles and liquid droplets, containing various substances such as dust, soot, smoke, organic matter, and various chemicals.
- PM is often a by-product of combustion and remains in the air after something burns.
- Most air pollution comes from human activities such as power plants, vehicle use, and agriculture.
- PM 2.5, the smallest group of PMs, is considered the most dangerous as it can pass deeper into the airways and beyond.
III. Studying the Cognitive Effects of Air Quality
- Air pollution leads to millions of premature deaths worldwide each year, and research is seeking to understand its cognitive effects.
- For the study, researchers followed 121 players through three eight-week chess tournaments in Germany from 2017 to 2019, recording more than 30,000 moves.
- Sensors were used to record PM 2.5 levels, carbon dioxide, and temperature inside the tournament venues.
- PM 2.5 levels inside the venues ranged from 14 to 70 micrograms per cubic meter of air, which is comparable to many urban areas.
The study’s findings show the clear impact that air pollution has on cognitive abilities, specifically in the realm of strategic decision-making. It serves as a reminder of the crucial need to address air pollution to protect not only our physical health but also our cognitive abilities.
