Is Your Smartphone Decreasing Your Cognitive Function?

It’s been over 10 years since the first smartphone was sold in stores. Millions of people now own a smartphone and it’s not a dispute that having the internet and various social media apps constantly at your fingertips can be a distraction.

However, recently published research has shown that simply having a smartphone near a desk can compromise a person’s ability to think and perform other tasks. The results came from a study done at McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin involving 520 undergraduate students. Students with their phone in a different room, or even in their bag under the desk showed significantly improved cognitive performance compared to those with a phone on their desk turned to silent.

Further research is required to determine how the presence of a smartphone affects people in different work environments, classrooms, or social situations. For now though, leaving your phone in your bag while at work could be helping to increase your productivity!