Test Takers See Red

The color red can affect how people function: Think of drivers stopping for red lights.

Researchers have found that red can also prevent test-takers from performing their best.

Psychology professor Andrew J. Elliot says that when people see even a flash of red before being tested, they associate the color with mistakes and failure—and in turn do poorly on the test.

"Color clearly has an aesthetic value, but it can also carry specific meanings and convey specific information," Elliot says.