The Surprising Science Behind It
The Science of Cuteness and Concentration
1. The Study
Researchers at Hiroshima University found that people who viewed cute animal photos performed better on detail-oriented tasks. Their accuracy improved and reaction times were faster.
2. Why It Works
Looking at cute things activates nurturing instincts, which in turn encourages careful behaviour—translating into improved focus on tasks that require attention.
3. Brain Engagement
Cuteness can trigger positive emotions and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a calmer, more attentive state of mind.
4. Practical Uses
Need a productivity boost? Take a short break to look at photos of puppies or kittens. It may help you refocus and approach tasks with renewed energy.
5. More Than a Mood Booster
While cute images certainly brighten our day, this research shows their benefits go beyond emotion—they can genuinely support cognitive function.
The cute things in life can do all sorts of wonders for us. As well as giving us a case of the warm and fuzzies, the mere sight of cute pictures can heighten our mental skills, improving our concentration after we view them.
A recent Japanese study found, through three separate experiments, that people showed higher levels of concentration after looking at pictures of puppies or kittens.
About 132 university students were divided up into three groups. Each group was assigned a different task. The first two groups had the most compelling results. The first group played a version of the game Operation where participants had to carefully pick up small objects from a hole without brushing the sides. The second group was asked to find a given number from a random sequence of numbers within a certain time limit. Both groups performed the tasks twice – before and after looking at seven pictures.
The first group who were shown images of puppies and kittens performed their tasks better after the break than those who looked at cats and dogs. Performance scores improved by 44% and the time it took to complete the task increased by 12%.
“This finding suggests that viewing cute images makes participants behave more deliberately and perform tasks with greater time and care,” said the researchers, according to the published paper.
In the number experiment, half the participants was given pleasant food images like steak, pasta and sushi and the other half images of cute kittens and puppies. The group that saw kitten and puppies were more accurate, improving their scores by about 16%. They were also faster, increasing the number of random numerical sequences they got through by about 13%.
There was no change among groups that saw cats and dogs, or the food images.
So why not improve your concentration skills at the computer by replacing those annoying banner ads that keep popping up when you’re browsing the internet with adorable images of cute kittens or puppies? All you need to do is use Google Chrome and download the free Chrome ‘BabyAnimalBlocker’ Extension.
Final Thought
Next time you find yourself drifting at work or struggling with a tricky task, don’t feel guilty for taking a moment to enjoy some pet photos. Science says it might be just what you need to sharpen your focus.
