Yerkes-Dodson Law

There is an optimum arousal for performing different tasks.

The optimum depends on the complexity of the task:

For simple tasks (e.g. sorting coins) arousal should be high.

For complex tasks (e.g. solving a math problem) optimum arousal should be low.

Inappropriate arousal reduces task performance:
E.g. fire alarm interrupting an exam

E.g. sleepy couch-potato contemplating washing the dishes

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