Investigating the impact of crowded train commuting on cognitive load: A pilot study

Overcrowding is a common challenge faced by public transport systems in many megacities around the world. Commuting in a crowded environment will not only generate physiological discomfort but also affect passengers’ psychological and neurophysiological state, leading to an increase in the level of anxiety. This pilot study investigates the neurophysiological impact of crowded train commuting using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in an ecologically valid environment. Brain activity was recorded from the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Results show a progressive increase in oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO) concentration—indicating rising cognitive load—when commuting in the crowded condition, but not in the uncrowded condition. Moreover, significant and continuous increases in HbO were observed during deceleration in the crowded condition, suggesting that elevated mental effort is more likely to occur towards deceleration and getting off. These findings provide early neurophysiological evidence of crowding-induced cognitive strain and demonstrate the feasibility of fNIRS in simulating real-world commuting scenarios. The study highlights the potential of neuroimaging to inform transport design and urban mobility policy. • Investigates how crowded train environments affect cognitive load, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). • Conducted in an ecologically valid lab environment simulating a London Underground train carriage. Key findings. • Crowded condition showed a progressive increase in HbO (oxygenated haemoglobin) during the commuting journey, indicating rising cognitive load, especially at the deceleration phase. • More PFC channels were activated under the crowded condition, showing wider and stronger brain activity.