E15 - Attention to Phone Presence: [The OSPAN Score]

Hi everyone,

My name is Stephan and this is my story of how I became The Attention Master.

In Episode 15, I want to make you aware of the loss of cognitive performance that you suffer when you keep your phone close to you.

Here is what you are going to learn today:

• How working memory and fluid intelligence contribute to performance.

• The effect of phone proximity on focus and attention.

• Actionable tips for reducing distractions.

This week’s community challenge

The University of Texas conducted a study to see if it matters how close students hold their smartphones while studying. 548 students participated and were divided into 3 equal groups. One group tested with their smartphones on their desks, the second group tested with their smartphones in their pockets, and the last group tested with their smartphones in another room.

The exercises the students had to solve were designed to measure their working memory capacity and fluid intelligence.