Fire is closely associated with human life. The purpose of this study was to use a probe stimulus/dual task methodology to investigate the psychophysiological effects of the fireplace. Participants made auditory discriminations during an "odd-ball task", while also looking at a-lit fireplace. ERPs, button press performance, alpha power and questionnaire responses were measured or assessed. The amplitudes of the N2 components elicited by target and deviant stimuli were significantly decreased during later sessions. In contrast, there were no P3 component and reaction time to the target differences. Furthermore, alpha power increased through the sessions. Attention during the early stages of a trial was transfixed by the fireplace, as reflected in decreased N2 amplitudes. In addition, watching the fireplace appears to have induced relaxation, as indexed by increased alpha power. Real fire as a natural element may have some tranquil effects.

Key words: fireplace, event-related brain potential (ERP), psychophysiology, tranquility ergonomic