What role does cognitive load play in user navigation?

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. In the context of user navigation, high cognitive load can significantly hinder the efficiency of a user's interaction with a system. When users are faced with complex interfaces or an overload of information, their ability to make quick and effective decisions decreases. This reduced efficiency manifests as longer time spent searching for information, increased likelihood of errors, and overall frustration, leading to a more cumbersome navigation experience.

In contrast, lower cognitive load generally means that users can navigate more intuitively and with greater ease, accessing the information or performing tasks more swiftly and effectively. Thus, when cognitive load is high, it naturally reduces the efficiency with which users can navigate a system, making option B the correct choice.