Subjective reports remain the gold standard for measuring mental effort
In short: Researchers who reviewed 33 different experiments found that while various physical signals can track how hard our brains are working, they are not always as accurate as a person's own report. The study looked at physiological data from the heart, lungs, eyes, skin, and brain to see which best captured intrinsic cognitive load during complex tasks.
The review found that eye-tracking was the most sensitive physical measure, followed by signals from the heart, lungs, skin, and brain. However, subjective self-reports consistently showed the highest validity. Because different sensors vary in their ability to detect subtle changes, the researchers concluded that combining physiological data with personal reports provides the most reliable picture of mental effort.
This study was a systematic review of existing experiments using within-subjects designs. A limitation is that it relies on previously published data rather than new primary testing.
Why it matters: While technology can track mental effort, our own internal sense of how hard we are thinking remains a primary source of truth.
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