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User experience (UX) is central to human-computer interaction. As technology becomes embedded in daily life, improving UX is crucial. Cognitive load greatly affects UX, yet previous reviews have largely overlooked this relationship, focusing instead on isolated areas or usability metrics. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesise current evidence on this connection, exploring seven research questions. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Science Direct, ACM Digital Library, and ERIC databases in March 2025. Based on the inclusion criteria, 19 studies were selected. The findings show a strong link between cognitive load and UX, emphasising that enhancing UX depends on optimising, rather than simply reducing, cognitive load. Germane load holds a significant position in UX, and it requires further empirical research, along with gender-specific relationships between load types and UX metrics. Future studies should adopt multimodal approaches for more accurate and comprehensive insights into user cognition.
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Jafar et al. (2026) studied this question.
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