The debate over open plan offices has generated countless think pieces, but a new study adds something rare to the conversation: hard neurological data. Researchers from two Spanish universities used wireless EEG technology to measure how office layouts actually affect workers' brain activity—and the results suggest that open environments may be quietly exhausting our cognitive resources.
What the Brain Data Shows
The study equipped participants (ranging from their mid-20s to mid-60s) with portable EEG sensors while they completed typical work tasks—answering emails, recalling information, managing notifications—in two settings: a traditional open floor plan and a semi-private glass-walled pod.
The findings were striking:
- **In open plan spaces**, brain waves linked to intense concentration, mental fatigue, and real-time memory retrieval steadily increased over time. Measures of alertness, cognitive load, and task engagement also rose, indicating that workers' brains were working progressively harder to compensate for environmental distractions.
- **In private pods**, those same indicators declined. Activity in the prefrontal cortex—the brain region responsible for filtering distractions and sustaining focus—calmed, suggesting workers could engage with tasks more efficiently and with less mental strain.
While the sample size was modest (under 30 participants) and individual responses varied, the overall pattern supports a clear conclusion: open plan layouts impose measurable cognitive overhead. For some, the effect may be mild; for others, especially those already managing high workloads or sensory sensitivities, the toll could be significant.
Corroborating Evidence: Satisfaction Surveys and Lived Experience
This neurological data aligns with broader research. A 2013 analysis of over 42,000 office workers across four countries found consistently lower satisfaction in open plan settings, primarily driven by noise and lack of privacy.
Anecdotal accounts reinforce these findings. In a widely read 2022 *New York Times* column, David Brooks argued that "human beings, if they are to thrive, need a bit of privacy — walls and a door." Reader responses highlighted practical frustrations: overheard personal calls, the illusion of space efficiency, and the mental drain of constant ambient stimulation.
More recently, online discussions have spotlighted how open layouts disproportionately affect neurodivergent employees. Comments describe sensory overload from lighting, temperature fluctuations, and overlapping conversations—conditions that can make sustained focus feel impossible. One worker shared: "I was losing my mind… going home each night and all I could do was go straight to bed." For employers committed to inclusive workplaces, these insights aren't just empathetic—they're strategic.
Practical Steps Forward
As companies navigate post-pandemic return-to-office policies, the conversation is shifting from *whether* people come in to *how* the space supports their work. The risk of burnout isn't just a personal issue—it's a business one, affecting retention, productivity, and innovation.
Employers don't need to demolish open floors to make a difference. Evidence-backed adjustments include:
- **Creating quiet zones or focus pods** for deep work
- **Installing acoustic panels or sound-dampening materials** to reduce noise bleed
- **Using visual partitions or modular walls** to create psychological boundaries
- **Offering flexible seating** so employees can choose environments suited to their task and sensory needs
These aren't luxuries—they're investments in cognitive sustainability. When brains aren't constantly fighting distraction, people can do their best work with less exhaustion.
Open plan offices were sold as collaborative, egalitarian, and efficient. But brain science suggests a different reality: for many workers, these spaces demand extra mental effort just to maintain baseline focus. As we rethink workplace design, the goal shouldn't be to choose between "open" and "closed," but to build environments that respect how human brains actually function. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can add to an office isn't another desk—it's a wall.