A Cold nose means you are working too hard – Finally an easy way to tell!

 

By Brittany DaSilva

 

 

Have you ever noticed that you have a cold nose, regardless of your body temperature? Are you a multi-tasker who frequently feels overwhelmed? Surprisingly, these two questions are actually related. In a study recently published in the journal Human Factors, scientists have proven that a cold nose is a sign of thinking too hard.

 

Researchers at the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT) in England, paired with academic staff from the Bioengineering and Human Factors Research Groups, found a strong correlation between the temperature of the nose and the brain’s mental workload. Using a non-invasive thermal camera, scientists studied the temperatures and neurological functions of 14 volunteers conducting various mental tasks.

 

The results of the study show that when mentally absorbed in a task, a person’s breathing rate changes as the autonomic nervous system takes over. The nose temperature of those who felt overwhelmed dropped by about one degree centigrade. The effect is most pronounced in the area above the sinuses. Blood flow from the face may also be diverted to the cerebral cortex due to the increased mental demand, however, more research must be done to prove this.

 

Continued advancements in technology have made this study possible. Although lighter and smaller than ever before, there have been improvements in the resolution and computing power of digital thermography cameras. As a result, the researchers are now able to carry out the non-invasive and non-obtrusive physiological monitoring of cognitive workload. Facial thermography has proven to be the least intrusive of all the approaches the team has tried.

 

Excessive cognitive demands on an individual can lead to oversights and errors. In some fields, these errors can have tragic results. Researchers are interested in placing a digital thermography camera in the cockpit of an aircraft, in order to determine when a pilot has reached a potentially dangerous stress level. In recent years, elevated levels of stress or fatigue in pilots has become a major concern. Professor Herve Morvan, Director of IAT, explained, “Pilot fatigue has received greater exposure recently and developing an advanced system to monitor it is a significant step in a sector where safety is paramount”.

 

This technology may also allow for greater accuracy when it comes to workload estimation by monitoring whether individuals are working too hard, without interrupting the task at hand. Scientists are continuing to study the mental workload of situations that require both temporal and spatial awareness. The results of this study can result in safer working environments for individuals in high-stress careers, while also allowing you to prove to your boss that you have too much on your plate.