Thermal Imaging-based Measurement of Facial Skin Temperature on Cognitive Load Tasks

Abstract

Cognitive load is the state in which individuals exceed their mental resources, beyond their limited working memory when confronted with a complex cognitive situation. This study examined how facial skin temperature changes during cognitive load tasks. Furthermore, we considered whether biological factors had significant influence in these cognitive situations. A total of 122 participants were divided into six groups by age and sex. Their facial skin temperatures were measured three times; at baseline, during an easy cognitive task, and during a difficult cognitive task. All six groups showed a greater increase in facial temperatures during performance of the difficult cognitive task. This study therefore suggests that facial skin temperature is a good indicator for measuring cognitive load in stressful situations.