Study: seeing your reflection in video calls leads to mental fatigue

A recent study from Ireland’s University of Galway revealed that viewing one’s image during video calls can lead to heightened mental fatigue.

Conducted with EEG monitoring of 32 volunteers, the study confirmed increased fatigue levels when participants could see themselves on-screen, suggesting potential implications for improving remote meeting experiences.

“Our study shows that those feelings of fatigue you get during video calls are real, and seeing your own reflection makes it even more tiring,” Professor Eoin Whelan, who led the study, said, adding that “simply turning off the mirror image can help offset fatigue in virtual meetings.”