The Cognitive Costs of Virtual Communication

The pandemic accelerated the trend toward digital communication for learning and working. However, there are consequences to this approach.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Communicating through screens may not yield the same results as old-fashioned, in-person communication

• Pairs communicating virtually generated significantly fewer total ideas compared to in-person pairs, possibly due to a narrowed visual focus

• Virtual meeting fatigue has been called a “detriment to worker well-being and productivity”

• Signi…