Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Cognitive Science

New study indicates age plays a key role in the relationship between technology multitasking and cognition

by Emily Manis
July 26, 2022
in Cognitive Science
(Photo credit: leszekglasner)

(Photo credit: leszekglasner)

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As technology has gotten more popular, multitasking has greatly increased. Nowadays people use their smartphones for a plethora of purposes, all while also engaging with the world around them- but are we really able to focus on all of that at once? A study published in Scientific Reports seeks to investigate how media multitasking is related to multitasking ability.

As smart phones have grown in popularity, it has become more and more common to spend time on multiple different social networking platforms. This has led to “media multitasking” which is the concept of interacting with multiple streams of information while also participating in other events. American youth use technology for approximately 10 hours a day, meaning much of their time is spent engaging in media multitasking.

Multitasking generally has been shown to use significant cognitive abilities, making the performance less strong when a person is trying to do multiple things at once. Due to this, there have been concerns that media multitasking is negative affecting the cognitive abilities of youths. This study seeks to explore this relationship.

Study author Natasha Matthews and colleagues recruited 1,511 participants who visited the National Science and Technology Centre in Australia. Participants ranged in age from 7 years old to 70 years old. Data was collected as a “supervised exhibit” which included six workstations. Participants completed demographic questions, a technology-multitasking survey, and a cognitive multitasking test which included three tasks. All aspects of this study were completed on a digital tablet.

Results showed that high levels of media-multitasking were related to improved multitasking abilities. But this relationship existed solely in participants who were children to young adults, aged 7 to 29. There was a greater cost for media-multitasking in older participants.

“Interestingly, in our data the sign of the relationship between multitasking costs and multi-media use also changes with age from positive in young participants to negative in older participants, suggesting that the demographic composition of participant groups may have significantly influenced the pattern of results observed in previous studies,” the researchers said.

Though this could be due to the constant media consumption of youths “training” their minds to multitask more effectively, the study authors suggest it is more likely due to a parallel relationship where while young people are honing their multitasking abilities and cognitive functioning, they are also increasingly utilizing and consuming media.

“At the same time that multitasking abilities are being established, children devote more of their newfound skills to the various digital technologies at their disposal,” they explained.

This study took important steps into better understanding media-multitasking and cognitive ability. Despite this, it has some limitations. One such limitation is that the researchers utilized a sample of people going to a science center, which may skew toward people with better cognitive abilities. Additionally, this sample was recruited in one city in Australia; future research could include a more diverse sample.

The study, “Media-multitasking and cognitive control across the lifespan“, was authored by Natasha Matthews, J. B. Mattingley, and P. E. Dux.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin2Send

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

People are less satisfied with their marriage when their partner is not interested in social interactions, study finds

Individuals with secure emotional attachment are more likely to forgive and to be forgiven, study finds

Facing stigmatization due to depression can lower pain tolerance and increase catastrophizing

Sleep effort mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression, study finds

Owners of sex dolls are less prone to sexual aggression, but also have lower sexual self-esteem

Anxiety knowledge is lower in those who seek information on social media more often, study finds

RECENT

Sleep effort mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression, study finds

Masks hinder our ability to recognize facial expressions of sadness and fear

New research suggests populism and conspiracy mentality are both rooted in a fundamental disposition of distrust

Facing stigmatization due to depression can lower pain tolerance and increase catastrophizing

Individuals with secure emotional attachment are more likely to forgive and to be forgiven, study finds

Memory reactivation during sleep may not always improve memory consolidation

Women whose male partners use porn more often tend to be less satisfied with emotional and sexual aspects of their relationship

New research finds when small talk becomes awkward, we are more likely to blame ourselves

Currently Playing

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

People with dark personality traits are better at finding novel ways to cause damage or harm others

Dark Triad
Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Exercising in nature produces psychological benefits and measurable changes in brain activity

Cognitive Science
People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

People with social anxiety tend to engage in restrictive “safety behaviors” that make them less likable, study finds

Anxiety
Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness

Psychopathy
People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

People exposed to phubbing by their romantic partner are less satisfied with their romantic relationship

Relationships and Sexual Health
Paranormal beliefs are associated with worse sleep, study finds

Paranormal beliefs are associated with worse sleep, study finds

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.