An Analysis of the Effects of Smartphone Push Notifications on Task Performance with regard to Smartphone Overuse Using ERP

Abstract

Smartphones are used ubiquitously worldwide and are essential tools in modern society. However, smartphone overuse is an emerging social issue, and limited studies have objectively assessed this matter. The majority of previous studies have included surveys or behavioral observation studies. Since a previous study demonstrated an association between increased push notifications and smartphone overuse, we investigated the effects of push notifications on task performance. We detected changes in brainwaves generated by smartphone push notifications using the N200 and P300 components of event-related potential (ERP) to investigate both concentration and cognitive ability. ERP assessment indicated that, in both risk and nonrisk groups, the lowest N200 amplitude and the longest latency during task performance were found when push notifications were delivered. Compared to the nonrisk group, the risk group demonstrated lower P300 amplitudes and longer latencies. In addition, the risk group featured a higher rate of error in the Go-Nogo task, due to the negative influence of smartphone push notifications on performance in both risk and nonrisk groups. Furthermore, push notifications affected subsequent performance in the risk group.

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

“…Smartphones, and especially certain cues associated with new incoming information or messages, have an explicit demanding character and are able to induce craving to use online-communication applications 71 . Auditory smartphone notifications were shown to attract attention and affect task performance, especially in individuals with a tendency towards an excessive use 72 . Cognitive control processes are necessary in order to inhibit or ignore impulsive responses on demanding cues in situations, when responding to the auditory signals is not appropriate.…”

Should it Stay or Should it Go? Smartphone Dependency

“…Park and colleagues [2] proposed that smartphone popularity is due to the ease and flexibility with which they can be used to complete daily tasks. While there are many advantages of smartphone use, there are also negative effects, such as: nomophobia [3], smartphone involvement [4], dependency [5] and distraction [6]. Furthermore, notification settings and proximity to one's smartphone can evoke feelings of inattention, hyperactivity [7] and anxiety [8].…”

“…Seo and colleagues [9] discovered that mobile phone use negatively predicted attention which in turn affected mathematics and language arts achievement. Newer studies have found that receiving notifications or a call during a task can affect task performance [6,10]. Kim and colleagues [6] examined the effects of notifications on task performance with regards to smartphone overuse and found that participants in the high overuse (risk) group were more sensitive to notifications than the low overuse group.…”

“…Newer studies have found that receiving notifications or a call during a task can affect task performance [6,10]. Kim and colleagues [6] examined the effects of notifications on task performance with regards to smartphone overuse and found that participants in the high overuse (risk) group were more sensitive to notifications than the low overuse group. The risk group demonstrated the highest level of impaired concentration after hearing incoming notifications [6].…”

“…Kim and colleagues [6] examined the effects of notifications on task performance with regards to smartphone overuse and found that participants in the high overuse (risk) group were more sensitive to notifications than the low overuse group. The risk group demonstrated the highest level of impaired concentration after hearing incoming notifications [6]. Chen and Yan [10] investigated the effects of learning while multitasking with a mobile phone.…”