Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool?
Abstract Cognitive load occurs when the demands of a task surpass the available processing capacity, straining mental resources and potentially impairing performance efficiency, such as increasing the number of errors in a task. Owing to its ubiquity in real-world scenarios, the existence of offload...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Cognitive Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-025-00616-7 |
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| author | Shari Cavicchi Abdulaziz Abubshait Giulia Siri Magda Mustile Francesca Ciardo |
| author_facet | Shari Cavicchi Abdulaziz Abubshait Giulia Siri Magda Mustile Francesca Ciardo |
| author_sort | Shari Cavicchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cognitive load occurs when the demands of a task surpass the available processing capacity, straining mental resources and potentially impairing performance efficiency, such as increasing the number of errors in a task. Owing to its ubiquity in real-world scenarios, the existence of offloading strategies to reduce cognitive load is not new to experts and nonexperts, and many of these strategies involve technology (e.g., using Calendar Apps to remember scheduled events). Surprisingly, little is known about the potential use of humanoid robots for cognitive offloading. We will examine studies assessing the influence of humanoid robots on cognitive tasks requiring the resolution of cognitive conflict to determine whether their presence facilitates or hinders cognitive performance. Our analysis focuses on standardized cognitive conflict paradigms, as these effectively simulate real-life conflict scenarios (i.e., everyday challenges in focusing on the task and ignoring distractions). In these studies, robots were involved by either participating in the tasks, providing social cues, or observing human performance. By identifying contexts where humanoid robots support cognitive offloading and where they may undermine it, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of cognitive processes in human–robot interaction (HRI) and informs the design of interventions aimed at improving task performance and well-being in professional HRI settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49ad79bb1a7d4807b5e2492d57cd561a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2365-7464 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cognitive Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-49ad79bb1a7d4807b5e2492d57cd561a2025-08-20T02:24:26ZengSpringerOpenCognitive Research2365-74642025-04-0110111610.1186/s41235-025-00616-7Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool?Shari Cavicchi0Abdulaziz Abubshait1Giulia Siri2Magda Mustile3Francesca Ciardo4Social Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction, Italian Institute of TechnologySocial Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction, Italian Institute of TechnologySocial Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction, Italian Institute of TechnologySocial Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction, Italian Institute of TechnologySocial Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction, Italian Institute of TechnologyAbstract Cognitive load occurs when the demands of a task surpass the available processing capacity, straining mental resources and potentially impairing performance efficiency, such as increasing the number of errors in a task. Owing to its ubiquity in real-world scenarios, the existence of offloading strategies to reduce cognitive load is not new to experts and nonexperts, and many of these strategies involve technology (e.g., using Calendar Apps to remember scheduled events). Surprisingly, little is known about the potential use of humanoid robots for cognitive offloading. We will examine studies assessing the influence of humanoid robots on cognitive tasks requiring the resolution of cognitive conflict to determine whether their presence facilitates or hinders cognitive performance. Our analysis focuses on standardized cognitive conflict paradigms, as these effectively simulate real-life conflict scenarios (i.e., everyday challenges in focusing on the task and ignoring distractions). In these studies, robots were involved by either participating in the tasks, providing social cues, or observing human performance. By identifying contexts where humanoid robots support cognitive offloading and where they may undermine it, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of cognitive processes in human–robot interaction (HRI) and informs the design of interventions aimed at improving task performance and well-being in professional HRI settings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-025-00616-7Cognitive loadHuman–robot interactionCognitive offloading |
| spellingShingle | Shari Cavicchi Abdulaziz Abubshait Giulia Siri Magda Mustile Francesca Ciardo Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? Cognitive Research Cognitive load Human–robot interaction Cognitive offloading |
| title | Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? |
| title_full | Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? |
| title_fullStr | Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? |
| title_short | Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool? |
| title_sort | can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool |
| topic | Cognitive load Human–robot interaction Cognitive offloading |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-025-00616-7 |
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