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In their study Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One's Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity,, published in Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin conducted experiments with around 800 smartphone users to measure how well they could complete tasks with their phones nearby.
Participants completed tests on a computer which required full concentration to score well in. The tests were designed to measure the brain's ability to hold and process data. Before the test, people in the study were told to either put their phone face down on the desk, in their pocket or bag, or in another room. The phones had to be on silent.
The study found that people with their phones in another room did significantly better on the tests than those with phones on their desk, and slightly better than those with their phones in their pocket or bag.
Assistant professor and co-author of the study Adrian Ward told UT Austin: 'We see a linear trend that suggests that as the smartphone becomes more noticeable, participants' available cognitive capacity decreases.
'Your conscious mind isn't thinking about your smartphone, but that process—the process of requiring yourself to not think about something—uses up some of your limited cognitive resources. It's a brain drain.'
Participants completed tests on a computer which required full concentration to score well in. The tests were designed to measure the brain's ability to hold and process data. Before the test, people in the study were told to either put their phone face down on the desk, in their pocket or bag, or in another room. The phones had to be on silent.
The study found that people with their phones in another room did significantly better on the tests than those with phones on their desk, and slightly better than those with their phones in their pocket or bag.
Assistant professor and co-author of the study Adrian Ward told UT Austin: 'We see a linear trend that suggests that as the smartphone becomes more noticeable, participants' available cognitive capacity decreases.
'Your conscious mind isn't thinking about your smartphone, but that process—the process of requiring yourself to not think about something—uses up some of your limited cognitive resources. It's a brain drain.'
The Mere Presence of Your Smartphone Reduces Brain Power, Study Shows
Your cognitive capacity is significantly reduced when your smartphone is within reach — even if it’s off.
news.utexas.edu
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