I share research & insights on biomechanics, exoskeletons & wearable tech. Vanderbilt University Professor. HeroWear Co-Founder & Chief Scientist.
🧠I remember several years ago when there was a lot of concern that #exoskeletons might increase cognitive load. But the evidence that has emerged since tells a different story...
It wasn’t a totally unreasonable concern back then. Put a new wearable device on someone, and it could require more attention—especially while they’re learning to use it.
But the growing body of evidence from the last few years indicates that the magnitude of this concern was overblown.
⚠️ In retrospect, much of the early concern around cognitive load can be traced to a single study and accompanying press release that made claims well beyond what the data supported. Those claims were widely amplified, turning a narrow finding into the perception of a much broader scientific concern.
Today, the literature on exoskeletons and exosuits is mixed and nuanced.
Some studies have found increased attentional or cognitive demands in certain tasks or contexts, particularly during initial acclimation or if the exo used was uncomfortable or interfered with movement. Other studies have found little or no effect. And several more recent studies have pointed in the opposite direction: showing exos actually provided cognitive benefits, in part by reducing physical fatigue.
👍🏽 Here’s a nice recent example from researchers at Texas A&M.
In a field study with construction workers, they reported 37% less fatigue while using a passive back exoskeleton, along with a 29% improvement in hazard recognition. The authors suggest that reducing physical fatigue may leave workers with more cognitive resources to remain attentive to their surroundings.
🎯 Learning to use a new tool can increase attentional demands in the short term. But reducing physical demands and fatigue may also improve cognitive performance over the longer term.
What’s clear is that as more research and real-world evidence have accumulated—and as more people have actually worn and worked in exoskeletons—the cognitive-load concern has become much less prominent.
A good reminder not to let early concerns (or speculations) become accepted wisdom before the evidence is there. 🚀