Your mental health toolkit, part 2

Consequences of cognitive overload on learning and memory

As we discussed in Part One, executive function comprises several multifaceted mental processes, skills, and behaviors. One of those mental processes is cognitive load. Cognitive load is the mental effort you expend to process and recall information, reason, and make decisions (Invision). When processing information is especially complex – such as having to deal with distractions and other stresses while learning something new – this increases your cognitive load. A higher or more demanding cognitive load, however, can impede your ability to learn and remember information (PsychologistWorld).

According to Cognition Today, researchers have identified three types of cognitive load:

• Germane cognitive load: Mental effort put into acquiring knowledge and skills and constructing stores of knowledge in long-term memory, e.g. mnemonics, rhyme schemes)
• Intrinsic cognitive load: The complexity of the task or concept being presented and the learner’s ability to understand this new information, e.g. calculus problem is more complex than a basic calculation like 3+3
• Extraneous cognitive load: Distracting information not directly related to whatever you are trying to do, e.g. background noise, intrusive thoughts about extreme weather or vaccine availability)

Cognitive load has applications to both your education and mental health. Extraneous cognitive load comes into play in more ways than you might think. Given that your short-term memory has a limited capacity, you can only handle so much information and retain it effectively. If your working memory (or cognitive load) is maxed out by thoughts pinging around in your head and loud background conversations, you won’t be able to process, understand, remember, or learn anything very well (Mestre). Stress overloads your working memory, especially prolonged stress. Chronic stress can significantly impact your motivation, ability and drive to engage with school and work-related activities; it also impacts your ability to retain information you learn in school, work, and daily life contexts (University of Denver: Office of Teaching and Learning).

If you’ve noticed that your memory and ability to focus has been wonky lately, you’re not imagining it. However, do not panic. Resources are available!

• Cognitive Load Theory: Explaining our fight for focus – This BBC article provides a helpful discussion on the impact of cognitive load theory (and cognitive overload) on your mental health, and what you can do about it.
• Heads Up, Here’s How to Deal With Cognitive Overload at Work – Another article from Welcome to the Jungle provides tips on how to manage cognitive overload at work.

In the next installment, we will continue this discussion by exploring cognitive flexibility.