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distraction

This shows a woman looking at a smartphone

·December 11, 2022·4 min read

Constant Smartphone Notifications Tax Your Brain

Constant push notifications on smartphones may affect cognition by decreasing concentration and increasing distraction. Researchers found heavy smartphone use was associated with poor concentration recovery following a notification and alterations in brain activity that made people more sensitive to push notifications.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 28, 2022·4 min read

Why Silly Distractions at Work Can Actually Be Good for You

Having fun with co-workers can help to reduce stress at work, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2020·6 min read

How the Brain Focuses While Ignoring Distractions

Mouse study pinpoints the precise location in the brain where distracting stimuli are blocked, allowing for concentration on specific tasks. The findings could have implications for the treatment of ADHD and schizophrenia.

This shows a woman juggling random items such as shoes and a laptop

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 13, 2019·4 min read

Distractions distort what’s real

Distractions may change our perceptions of reality, making us believe we witnessed something different from what we really saw.

This shows a cartoon of a woman trying to read with lots of distractions in the background

Featured Neuroscience

·June 12, 2019·5 min read

How we tune out distractions

A pathway linking the basal ganglia to the thalamus enhances sensory discrimination and is used to suppress 'background noise'. The pathway, which is controlled by the prefrontal cortex, selectively suppresses sensory input as it flows to the thalamus.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 6, 2018·5 min read

Distracted People Can Be Smell Blind

Researchers say inattentional anosmia exists. People who are busily engaged in tasks or distracted may not notice the presence of new smells, a new study reveals.

Image shows a woman infront of a computer driving game.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 1, 2017·5 min read

Mind Wandering Is Common While Driving

During simulated driving, people's minds tend to wander upwards of 70% of the time, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 24, 2017·5 min read

Don’t Multitask While You Read This

A new study reveals that while multitasking diminishes our ability to remember some things, we can still focus on important information while our attention is divided.