When arousal meets cognitive load: affective arousal and germane processing in a Stroop-like task

This study investigates how affective arousal relates to distinct components of cognitive load during a cognitively demanding computer-based task. Affective arousal was measured pre- and post-performance using a brief pictorial instrument (POET-A), capturing momentary activation states in a language-independent format. Intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load were assessed following performance in a Stroop-like task in 120 participants (M = 23.72 years, SD = 5.72; 103 women, 15 men, 2 diverse), with germane cognitive load used as an indicator of germane processing. Results showed a consistent positive relation between affective arousal (pre- and post-task) and germane cognitive load, indicating an association with strategic, task-related cognitive processing. In contrast, affective arousal showed no (pre-performance) and only weak negative (post-performance) relations with intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load, underscoring the functional specificity of these associations. Germane cognitive load was additionally related to Stroop-like task performance, particularly to process-sensitive performance indices (reaction time), whereas affective arousal itself was not directly associated with task performance. These findings show a systematic and selective association between affective arousal and germane processing, highlighting its potential role in cognitive resource allocation during task engagement within a Cognitive Load Theory framework.