Ceiling Height

Andrew Huberman discusses the "cathedral effect" related to ceiling height in the Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, & Creativity of the Huberman Lab. This effect describes how different ceiling heights influence cognitive processing:

• High Ceilings: Promote broader, more abstract thinking and creative processes.
• Low Ceilings: Enhance detailed, analytic thinking suitable for tasks like accounting or technical work.

A study cited by Andrew Huberman found these effects significant even with small differences; a 10-foot ceiling supported abstract thinking, while an 8-foot ceiling enhanced detailed thinking 1.

For workspace optimization, he suggests working in environments that match the task at hand. Creative tasks benefit from high-ceilinged spaces or outdoor settings, while detailed work is better suited to low-ceilinged or visually restricted environments 2.