Adaptive Stress-Reactions of Autonomic Nervous System to Cogntive Load

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)'s adaptive stress responses to increasing cognitive demands, due to an increase in the number of items to be memorized. As the complexity of tasks increases and cognitive workload increases, or the mental effort required to complete a task by retaining information, different components of ANS may become activated. These conditions can enhance problem-solving performance, but they may also lead to emotional instability and decreased productivity. When a high level of motivation is added to a task, increasing cognitive complexity can be perceived as stressful. This may trigger sympathetic and parasympathetic responses in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), as measured by physiological indicators such as galvanic skin response (GSR) and pupillary dilation. An increase in the GSR and pupil dilation indicates a sympathetic response associated with orienting, defensive behaviors, and changes in emotional state, as well as increased cognitive demand. The experimental protocol aims to identify patterns of adaptive stress responses that are not influenced by participants' cognitive abilities. To this end, the study analyzes the dynamics of pupil size changes, eye movements, and the GSR under conditions of increased cognitive load, as well as the level of correlation between behavioral outcomes, anxiety levels, and the dynamics of the GSR change. This study examines the adaptive responses of the autonomic nervous system to cognitive load. It investigates changes in physical and emotional states using the GSR data, measurements of pupil area, and eye movement analysis. The research aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive and physiological processes involved in completing different tasks. In particular, the study aims to investigate the response of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to increasing cognitive workload, as measured by the number of items being memorized. It will focus on analyzing the characteristics of the adaptive stress response of the ANS under these conditions.