Cognitive control in media multitaskers

Abstract

Chronic media multitasking is quickly becoming ubiquitous, although processing multiple incoming streams of information is considered a challenge for human cognition. A series of experiments addressed whether there are systematic differences in information processing styles between chronically heavy and light media multitaskers. A trait media multitasking index was developed to identify groups of heavy and light media multitaskers. These two groups were then compared along established cognitive control dimensions. Results showed that heavy media multitaskers are more susceptible to interference from irrelevant environmental stimuli and from irrelevant representations in memory. This led to the surprising result that heavy media multitaskers performed worse on a test of task-switching ability, likely due to reduced ability to filter out interference from the irrelevant task set. These results demonstrate that media multitasking, a rapidly growing societal trend, is associated with a distinct approach to fundamental information processing.attention ͉ cognition ͉ executive function ͉ multitasking ͉ working memory

A combined experimental and individual-differences investigation into mind wandering during a video lecture.

“…This finding is broadly consistent with a growing body of research, using more general media multitasking questionnaires, that shows that higher endorsement of media multitasking habits is associated with lower performance of computerized attention tasks (e.g., Cain et al, 2016;Moisala et al, 2016;Ophir et al, 2009). As well, students who endorse more frequent media multitasking-particularly in academic contexts-show poorer academic performance (e.g., Fox, Rosen, & Crawford, 2009;Junco & Cotton, 2012;Kraushaar & Novak, 2010).…”

Media multitasking is associated with distractibility and increased prefrontal activity in adolescents and young adults

“…The current study therefore extends previous findings on media multitasking by using a more ecologically valid attentional task with complex linguistic stimuli, and by studying not only young adults but also adolescents in a sample much larger than in most related brain imaging studies. Based on previous studies, we expected media multitasking to be associated with increased distractibility (Ophir et al, 2009) but not with benefits in multitasking performance (Alzahabi & Becker, 2013;Sanbonmatsu et al, 2013) in the current study.…”

“…We used the shorter version of the media multitasking questionnaire (Ophir et al, 2009) adapted by Pea et al (2012) to create a media multitasking variable for each participant. The external validity of the resulting media multitasking questionnaire is yet to be firmly established, but several independent research groups have produced comparable indices for average media multitasking activity in their sample based on this questionnaire.…”

“…Ophir et al (2009) and Pea et al (2012) calculated a Media Multitasking Index (MMI), which was a measure of time spent multitasking in relation to the time spent using media in general. This means that a participant who uses little media but has a tendency to multitask while doing so gets a high MMI, whereas a participant who spends a lot of time using technology but only a small portion of it multitasking gets a low MMI, even though the absolute time spent media multitasking would be identical for these two participants.…”

Dysfunction of Self-Regulation and Self-Control in Facebook Addiction

“…Some findings reveal that using Facebook during studying is negatively related to grade point average in school [23]. While Ophir and colleagues [24] found that people who have the ability to multitask are more susceptible to interference from irrelevant stimuli. The results suggest that Facebook use can have an impact on academic performance.…”