New research suggests smartphone use associated with lowered intelligence

New University of Waterloo research that examined people’s smartphone habits as well as their analytical, verbal, and numeracy skills found an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence. The three studies, appearing in the journalComputers in Human Behavior, suggest that having convenience at our fingertips is making it easy for us to avoid thinking for ourselves.

Involving 660 subjects, the studies revealed that participants who demonstrated stronger cognitive skills and a greater willingness to think in an analytical way spent less time using their smartphones’ search-engine function. Conversely, the subjects who were intuitive thinkers – more prone to relying on gut feelings and instincts when making decisions – frequently used their device’s search engine rather than their own brainpower.

“They may look up information that they actually know or could easily learn, but are unwilling to make the effort to actually think about it,” said Gordon Pennycook, co-lead author of the study. “In contrast, analytical thinkers second-guess themselves and analyze a problem in a more logical sort of way. Highly intelligent people are more analytical and less intuitive when solving problems.”

The research provides support for an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence, but; “whether smartphones actually decrease intelligence is still an open question,” added Pennycook.

The researchers say that avoiding using our own minds to problem-solve might have adverse consequences for aging. “Decades of research has revealed that humans are eager to avoid expending effort when problem-solving and it seems likely that people will increasingly use their smartphones as an extended mind,” said co-researcher Nathaniel Barr. “Our reliance on smartphones and other devices will likely only continue to rise. It’s important to understand how smartphones affect and relate to human psychology before these technologies are so fully ingrained that it’s hard to recall what life was like without them. We may already be at that point.”

Related:
Discuss this article in our forum
Text messaging modifying our emotional responses
Clever vibrational hack turns iPhone into spyPhone
Overheard cellphone conversations “uniquely intrusive”
Electronic Maladies

Source: University of Waterloo

, , ,

Comments are closed.

Figure Small Single Dog 10.0 Smartphone While Sleeping C 1/6 Resin Painted picture

Figure Small Single Dog 10.0 Smartphone While Sleeping C 1/6 Resin Painted

$99.36



HP Veer Smartphone. New, (old stock) AT&T Locked. Excellent Battery. Collectible picture

HP Veer Smartphone. New, (old stock) AT&T Locked. Excellent Battery. Collectible

$125.00



Alcatel OneTouch Elevate Virgin Mobile Smartphone picture

Alcatel OneTouch Elevate Virgin Mobile Smartphone

$40.00



Jujutsu Kaisen Satoru Gojo  Acrylic Mini Smartphone Stand F/S from Japan picture

Jujutsu Kaisen Satoru Gojo Acrylic Mini Smartphone Stand F/S from Japan

$19.50



Motorola Moto G Stylus 2021 128GB Cr@cked Screen Works Charger Included Unlocked picture

Motorola Moto G Stylus 2021 128GB Cr@cked Screen Works Charger Included Unlocked

$60.00



San-X Rilakkuma Smartphone Shoulder Bag Crossbody Small Purse Cell Phone Wallet picture

San-X Rilakkuma Smartphone Shoulder Bag Crossbody Small Purse Cell Phone Wallet

$51.99



Happy Tree Friends T-shirt Strap Smartphone Cleaner Complete Set 5 Japan limited picture

Happy Tree Friends T-shirt Strap Smartphone Cleaner Complete Set 5 Japan limited

$55.00



RE-MENT Evangelion DesQ Desktop EVA Mini Figure #6 Gendo Ikari Smartphone Stand picture

RE-MENT Evangelion DesQ Desktop EVA Mini Figure #6 Gendo Ikari Smartphone Stand

$20.99



Oscium iMSO-204x Smartphone/Tablet Oscilloscope picture

Oscium iMSO-204x Smartphone/Tablet Oscilloscope

$315.00



Disney Parks Crossbody Wristlet Smartphone Wallet D-Tech Retro Throwback Graphic picture

Disney Parks Crossbody Wristlet Smartphone Wallet D-Tech Retro Throwback Graphic

$28.88



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes