Comparative Analysis of Color Mood Perception in Art and Non-Art University 1 Students: Hue, Saturation, and Brightness Effects in the Munsell Color System

Background: Hue, saturation, and brightness are critical dimensions of color perception, and art students may experience color-related emotions differently from non-art students due to either their specialized training or innate artistic sensitivity. Despite this intriguing possibility, limited research has systematically examined these differences. This study aims to investigate how art and non-art students perceive and emotionally evaluate different colors.Methods: Using a questionnaire-based approach, participants rated the emotional valence of colors on a 7-point semantic differential scale, ranging from very negative to very positive. The colors were carefully selected from Munsell's color system, which enabled precise manipulation of hue, brightness, and saturation levels. The study included 36 art students and 36 non-art students, who evaluated colors under controlled experimental conditions.Results: The findings indicate that brightness and saturation significantly influence emotional responses to colors. Warmer colors, such as orange, elicited more positive emotional evaluations, whereas cooler colors, such as blue, received less positive ratings. Notably, art students differed from non-art students in their emotional responses, with the former group showing distinct sensitivity to variations in color dimensions.Conclusion: This study highlights that art training shapes emotional color perception, as evidenced by the differing evaluations of art and non-art students. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how artistic training influences the emotional experience of color and underscore the role of education in enhancing perceptual and emotional sensitivity to visual stimuli.