Paper Number
ICIS2025-1093
Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Remote meetings are essential to modern work but often cause significant mental workload, especially during extended sessions. To support meeting participants in managing their mental workload, short breaks are suggested in literature. However, to propose breaks adequately, the temporal dynamics of mental workload need to be understood. This NeuroIS study investigates temporal dynamics of mental workload in interactive remote meetings by analyzing heart rate (variability) alongside self-reported workload. We conducted a laboratory study with 18 participants primarily engaged in a 45-minute interactive planning task. Results indicate that temporal patterns in heart rate and parasympathetic activity reflect workload fluctuations, aligning with established trends for prolonged cognitive engagement. We show that subjective overload varies across participants, highlighting the need for adaptive, neurophysiological-driven breaks balancing individual recovery and collaboration. Contributing to NeuroIS and research on the transformation of work, these insights provide foundations for designing neuro-adaptive video conferencing systems, supporting well-being and productivity.
Recommended Citation
Krisam, Chiara; Seitz, Julia; and Knierim, Michael Thomas, "When to Take a Break? Temporal Dynamics of Mental Workload in Remote Meetings - A NeuroIS Study" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/is_transformwork/is_transformwork/2
When to Take a Break? Temporal Dynamics of Mental Workload in Remote Meetings - A NeuroIS Study
Remote meetings are essential to modern work but often cause significant mental workload, especially during extended sessions. To support meeting participants in managing their mental workload, short breaks are suggested in literature. However, to propose breaks adequately, the temporal dynamics of mental workload need to be understood. This NeuroIS study investigates temporal dynamics of mental workload in interactive remote meetings by analyzing heart rate (variability) alongside self-reported workload. We conducted a laboratory study with 18 participants primarily engaged in a 45-minute interactive planning task. Results indicate that temporal patterns in heart rate and parasympathetic activity reflect workload fluctuations, aligning with established trends for prolonged cognitive engagement. We show that subjective overload varies across participants, highlighting the need for adaptive, neurophysiological-driven breaks balancing individual recovery and collaboration. Contributing to NeuroIS and research on the transformation of work, these insights provide foundations for designing neuro-adaptive video conferencing systems, supporting well-being and productivity.
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