Distractive or supportive? The effect of simulated non-isothermal natural wind on attention and creativity

• SNW improves thermal perception and perceived air quality (PAQ). • SNW does not disrupt attention performance in general. • SNW enhances performance on difficult convergent creativity tasks. • SNW improves high-frequency power of heart rate variability responses. • SNW has stronger impact on males in comfort and PAQ outcomes. It is well documented that natural wind in warm environments is perceived as pleasant. Natural wind for cooling typically provides both dynamic airflow and lower temperature. However, fluctuating airflow may distract occupants by drawing attention to thermal changes, potentially reducing available attentional resources. On the other hand, increased environmental awareness may benefit creative thinking. It remains unclear how the environmental variations of natural wind may benefit cognitive performance. Another limitation in the literature is that most studies have used isothermal dynamic airflow rather than cooler airflow. This study examines how simulated natural wind (SNW) at a warm indoor temperature (29°C) affects attention and creativity, compared with a control condition of still air at a lower temperature (25°C), when both conditions produced thermal neutrality. SNW was delivered toward the upper back using a non-isothermal cool airflow, replicating the dynamic speed profile of natural wind. A within-subject experiment with 30 participants showed that SNW significantly improved thermal comfort and thermal pleasure while maintaining overall thermal neutrality. Heart rate variability results indicated increased high-frequency power under SNW, reflecting greater parasympathetic activity associated with a “rest-and-digest” state. SNW did not disrupt attention performance generally. However, its effect on convergent creativity was task dependent. Performance on easy and moderately difficult problems declined under SNW, whereas performance on difficult problems improved. Additionally, SNW provided greater improvements for male than female participants. The findings can inform energy-efficient natural ventilation design and mechanical systems, improving comfort while also supporting cognitive performance in work and learning environments.