Temporal Trajectories in EEG-Based Mental Workload: Effects of Workspace Type

Abstract

Open-plan offices are a common format in contemporary work environments, but their exposed nature may increase cognitive demands. Work pods and other enclosed microspaces have been proposed as an alternative. However, scientific evidence demonstrating that these isolated spaces effectively reduce cognitive load remains scarce. This study examines how workspace type influences mental workload by analyzing how cognitive load evolves across two spatial configurations (open-plan office and work pod) during typical office tasks. Twenty-six participants completed auditory, reading, and writing tasks while their brain activity was recorded using EEG. The results show that each spatial typology generates distinct patterns of cortical activation: in the open-plan office, neural activity progressively increased throughout the tasks, indicating a growing effort to maintain performance, whereas in the work pod activation levels decreased, suggesting reduced cortical effort required to sustain task. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence that spatial design directly influences the mental workload associated with office work.