Why your brain has to work harder in an open-plan office than private offices: study

This professional online article, published in The Conversation, examines how open-plan office environments increase cognitive load and require greater mental effort compared to private or enclosed workspaces. Drawing on experimental and cognitive neuroscience research, including studies by Dr Libby Sander & colleagues alongside broader international evidence, it explores how factors such as noise, visual distraction, and constant interruptions affect attention, working memory, and task switching. The discussion situates these findings within environmental psychology and workplace design literature, highlighting how spatial configuration directly shapes cognitive performance and wellbeing. The article argues that reduced attentional control demands in private office settings can lead to more efficient and less mentally taxing work, raising important implications for organisational design and hybrid work policy.