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cognitive load
This term originates from educational psychology and human-computer interaction to describe the mental strain placed on the working memory. It is typically used in professional, academic, or technical contexts to discuss efficiency, learning, and user experience design.
In practical application, the term is often paired with adjectives like intrinsic, extraneous, or germane to specify whether the mental effort is inherent to the task or caused by poor presentation. It is almost exclusively used as an uncountable noun in these contexts, referring to a general state of mental demand rather than individual units of effort.
Meanings
Examples
Too many notifications on the screen create an unnecessary cognitive load.
I can't think straight because my cognitive load is just too high right now.
The teacher simplified the slides to reduce the cognitive load for the students.
Trying to drive in a storm while navigating a new city puts a massive cognitive load on the driver.
We need to streamline this workflow to minimize the cognitive load on our employees.
The game mechanics are so complex that the cognitive load becomes overwhelming for new players.
If I keep multitasking like this, my cognitive load will peak and I will make a mistake.
A clean interface helps lower the cognitive load and improves user retention.