Elevated CO2 Levels Directly Affect Human Cognition, New Harvard Study Shows

[Koinos]

Apparently, increased levels of carbon dioxide affect human cognition. They inhibit basic cognitive activity, crisis response, decision-making, and strategy. The problem was researched primarily in poor indoor-air quality and is likely to worsen as overall air quality indoor and out declines due to climate change. High concentrations of CO2 in the air seem to diminish thinking activity across the board.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/10/26/3714853/carbon-dioxide-impair-brain/

Introductory excerpt:

In a landmark public health finding, a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health finds that carbon dioxide (CO2) has a direct and negative impact on human cognition and decision-making. These impacts have been observed at CO2 levels that most Americans — and their children — are routinely exposed to today inside classrooms, offices, homes, planes, and cars.

Carbon dioxide levels are inevitably higher indoors than the baseline set by the outdoor air used for ventilation, a baseline that is rising at an accelerating rate thanks to human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels. So this seminal research has equally great importance for climate policy, providing an entirely new public health impetus for keeping global CO2 levels as low as possible.

This does not bode well for the future of clear-headed decision-making and crisis response to the problem of global warming itself. Human beings overall are likely to experience diminished cognitive ability due to high levels of CO2.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. The levels at which it seem to affect cognition are way above the levels it will affect the climate

If we really hit 1000ppm by 2100, we will have way bigger problems than a few lost iq points.

[CanonRay]

5. Yes, we're creating Republicans by destroying our brains!

[Ferretherder]

2. So, as the GOP'ers gradually fuck-up our ecosystem beyond repair,...

...the resulting environmental collapse assures that more and more CO2 saturated neanderthal knuckle-draggers (GOP'ers) are created to perpetuate the catastrophe.

Domino effect, anyone?

[AngryAmish]

3. Explain the Flynn Effect.

[Igel]

6. The increase in CO2 is trivial compared with what's needed to affect thinking.

So we expect no drop on that account.

We've been taught to take the test and think the same way as the test takers expect intelligent people to think. Diversity need not apply. That's actually Flynn's hypothesis, not mine.

[ryan_cats]

4. Someone

Someone saw Apollo 13.

Have CO2 levels risen from .039999 to .040000?

[lovuian]

7. We need indoor plants

that will brighten our homes and give much deserved oxygen and take away CO2

[bemildred]

8. I've heard it can kill you if the concentration gets high enough.