The Impact of Interactive Feedback in Mobile Medical Guidance on the Cognitive Load of the Elderly: A Comparative Experimental Study

Interactive feedback modalities affect the cognitive load of elderly users. This study aimed to investigate the differences in cognitive load between young and older adults during medical guidance interactions, as well as the impact of different feedback modalities on the cognitive load of the elderly. An interactive experiment was conducted using a mobile health platform, with four feedback conditions (No Feedback, Highlight Feedback, Text Feedback, and Voice Feedback) set as independent variables. Forty participants (20 young and 20 elderly) were recruited. Cognitive load was assessed through physiological measures, including heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalogram (EEG), along with standardized cognitive scales. The results revealed significant differences in cognitive load between the two age groups, with older adults experiencing lower cognitive load under voice feedback. These findings provide valuable insights for developing more effective and age-friendly intelligent interaction designs in mobile healthcare contexts.