from Journal of Biomedical Information
Stress is a fact of modern life, including at work. How do we know if we’re stressed at work? Researchers in Switzerland proved in an experiment that stressed people type and move their computer mouse differently than relaxed workers—move the mouse pointer more often and less precisely. People who are stressed at the office make more mistakes while typing, writing in fits and starts compared to their relaxed counterparts. Sounds simple, but there is a more complex explanation—as a neuromotor noise theory. Increased levels of stress negatively affect our brain’s ability to process information. The authors say stress also affects our motor skills. They were surprised that typing and mouse behavior was a better predictor of stress than heart rate. The study appears in the Journal of Biomedical Information.