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

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.