Physiological precursors that precede the awareness of cognitive stress

Abstract

In collaboration, early detection of partner’s dissatisfaction is important to keep communication in good shape. Such early detection is also essential for AI systems and agents that interact with humans. This paper examined whether physiological changes associated with cognitive stress precede the conscious experience of dissatisfaction during consensus building dialogue. Twenty male undergraduate participants engaged in controlled one-on-one prioritization tasks based on a snow-mountain rescue scenario. Participants continuously reported dissatisfaction in real time using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Physiological data were temporally aligned to peaks of subjective dissatisfaction. The results showed that subtle but sustained decreases in nasal skin temperature frequently occurred prior to subjective dissatisfaction peaks. Nasal skin temperature may serve as an early autonomic marker of emerging cognitive stress, whereas heart rate may reflect later or more intense stress responses. By elucidating the temporal dynamics between physiological responses and subjective stress, this study provides foundational insights for cognitive computing in sociotechnical systems and supports the design of adaptive dialogue support frameworks.

Keywords: Cognitive Stress, Consensus-building Dialogue, Nasal Skin Temperature, Thermal Imaging, Human-centered System Design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007371