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Effects of backpack weight on the performance of basic short-term/working memory tasks during flat-surface standing
Minseok Son1, Soomin Hyun1, Donghyun Beck1
1a Department of Industrial Engineering , Seoul National University , Seoul , South Korea.
Ergonomics
|March 6, 2019
Summary
Increased backpack weight negatively impacts short-term/working memory (STM/WM) performance. However, the phonological loop component of STM/WM was less affected by heavier loads, suggesting targeted strategies for managing cognitive load with body-worn equipment.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Factors Engineering
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Body-worn equipment, such as backpacks, can impose significant weight, potentially affecting cognitive functions.
- Understanding the impact of load carriage on cognitive performance is crucial for optimizing task efficiency and safety in various occupations.
- Short-term/working memory (STM/WM) is vital for numerous cognitive tasks, and its susceptibility to physical load is an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate the effects of varying backpack weights on performance across three distinct STM/WM tasks.
- To differentiate the impact of backpack load on the visuo-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop, and central executive components of WM.
- To provide insights into how body-worn equipment weight influences cognitive task performance in physically demanding contexts.
Main Methods:
- Thirty participants completed the Corsi block, digit span, and 3-back tasks under four backpack weight conditions (0%, 15%, 25%, 40% body weight) while standing.
- Performance metrics for each STM/WM task were recorded and analyzed.
- The study employed a controlled experimental design to isolate the effects of backpack weight.
Main Results:
- Increased backpack weight significantly impaired performance on all three STM/WM tasks.
- The phonological loop task (digit span) demonstrated greater resilience to increased backpack weight compared to the visuo-spatial and central executive tasks.
- A dose-response relationship was observed, with higher weights leading to more pronounced decrements in cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Carrying heavier backpacks adversely affects cognitive functions, particularly working memory.
- Reducing the load of body-worn equipment can enhance mental task performance and mitigate cognitive strain.
- These findings have practical implications for designing work environments and equipment to minimize the negative impact of load carriage on cognitive abilities.
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