University of Galway study finds self-view on video calls causes brain fatigue

November 7, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

University of Galway EEG Study Measures Brain Fatigue From Video Call Self-View

Seeing your own face in the corner of a video call screen triggers physical and mental fatigue by forcing the brain into a state of heightened self-awareness, according to a 2024 study.

Researchers at the University of Galway attached electrodes to the scalps of 32 volunteers—16 men and 16 women—to record electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements while participants took part in a live Zoom meeting. The study found that participants exhibited significantly greater brain fatigue when their self-view feature was active compared to when it was turned off.

    The Tech TL;DR:

  • Active self-views on video calls cause measurable brain fatigue according to EEG testing.
  • Men and women experience similar levels of video-conferencing exhaustion from the mirror effect.
  • Disabling the self-image display directly on the platform helps mitigate the drain.

The Mechanics of Video Call Exhaustion

The mental drain associated with remote conferencing, commonly termed “Zoom fatigue,” stems from several concurrent cognitive loads. According to the study’s findings, continuously observing one’s own reflection induces the “mirror effect,” an unnatural state where users focus heavily on personal appearance and behavior instead of processing conversation content.

Additionally, video platforms require the human brain to process verbal communication while simultaneously hunting for facial expressions and body language cues that lack the natural clarity of in-person interactions. Close-up video tiles staring back from displays keep the nervous system on high alert, leaving workers drained after standard office calls.

Study Shows Equal Video-Call Fatigue Across Genders

While prior survey-based research suggested that women experience harsher video-call fatigue due to increased self-consciousness regarding appearance, the University of Galway EEG recordings demonstrated otherwise. Eoin Whelan, a professor in the School of Business and Economics at the University of Galway who led the study, noted that alpha brain-wave activity remained uniform across 20-minute sessions for both male and female participants.

To combat the strain of virtual meetings, researchers recommend disabling the self-view option on the video call.

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