SUMMER is edging closer which means in many offices it's also time to start the annual air conditioning battle. 

While many office workers might complain being blasted with cold air affects their performance, they now have some science to back them up. 

The German study, published in the journal PLOS One, tested the ability of 500 men and women to perform a series of tasks at a variety of temperatures ranging from 16.19C and 32.57C.

At higher temperatures, women performed better on maths and verbal tasks while the reverse was true for men.

For women, the increase in performance while working in warmer temperatures was 'significantly larger' than the decrease in male performance.

The study added: “Our findings suggest that gender mixed workplaces may be able to increase productivity by setting the thermostat higher than current standards."

Experts have previously claimed the optimum air con temperature for women is 25C but men operate at their peak at 22C.