抄録
Determination of the optimal amount of information is essential to avoid confusion. In this study, the “Stroop task” was used for information processing, and the cognitive load was gradually increased by sequential adding of information. We designed and conducted two tasks that originate in the “Stroop task;” these two tasks feature significant differences in cognitive load. We also measured brain activity using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) under the assumption that such activity could be used as an index of cognitive load. Both tasks were associated with increased oxy-hemoglobin levels in the prefrontal area, and the task with a higher cognitive load was associated with a more substantial increase in oxy-hemoglobin; this indicates that oxy-hemoglobin levels may be used as an objective index for the evaluation of information-associated cognitive load. In addition, this study included two groups (Group A and B) of patients who undertook the tasks. Based on the timing and the number of mistakes, it was observed that subjects in group A demonstrated lesser information processing ability than those in group B. The findings of the present study thus indicate that oxy-hemoglobin variation may depend on the information processing ability of the subject.
