Having the world at our fingertips diminishes the role of our brains in daily life, according to researchers in Canada.
"Decades of research has revealed that humans are eager to avoid expending effort when problem-solving, and it seems likely that people will increasingly use their smartphones as an extended mind," says lead author Nathaniel Barr, a postdoctoral researcher at Waterloo.
Highly intelligent people are known to approach problem solving in a manner that's analytical rather than intuitive, yet smartphones allow them to second-guess themselves, say the researchers.
The problem leaves no one behind, for intuitive thinkers who rely on their gut instinct simply turn to their devices rather than their brainpower.
In three experiments that involved a total of 660 participants, the research team analyzed users' smartphone habits in relation to their cognitive style and verbal and quantitative skills.
The same participants performed better on the same tests and demonstrated greater willingness to think analytically when they were separated from their smartphones, according to the study.
"Our research provides support for an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence," says co-author Gordon Pennycook, a PhD candidate in Psychology at the University of Waterloo. "Whether smartphones actually decrease intelligence is still an open question that requires future research."
The study, which was published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, bears grim implications on the cognition of an aging population.
"Our reliance on smartphones and other devices will likely only continue to rise," says Barr. "It's important to understand how smartphones affect and relate to human psychology before these technologies are so fully ingrained that it's hard to recall what life was like without them. We may already be at that point."
To recall what life was like in the pre-smartphone era, try leaving the house without it every once in a while -- it might do more good than harm.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Sat Mar 07 2015
![Do smartphones make us lazy? Do smartphones make us lazy?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-03/81425686706_295x200.jpg)
Brain drain? Recent research says being overly dependant on smartphones makes for an underactive brain. - Carlos Amarillo/shutterstock.com
60 peratus tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar dengan KWSP
Sebanyak 60 peratus atau 1.3 juta daripada 2.3 tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar sebagai ahli Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dan berisiko tidak memiliki simpanan untuk persaraan.
RUU ordinan buruh Sabah 2024 dibentang
Pindaan Ordinan Buruh Sabah membabitkan 16 perkara utama meliputi 70 fasal untuk menyelaras undang-undang perburuhan yang merangkumi tiga akta utama yang dikuatkuasakan di Semenanjung Malaysia.
![Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721208356_Bangkokhotel.jpg)
Wanita racun lima orang sebelum bunuh diri dengan sianida - Polis Bangkok
Polis percaya seorang daripada enam pelancong, dua daripadanya juga memegang pasport Amerika Syarikat, adalah dalang di sebalik tragedi itu.
![Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/51679899391_MASHUP.jpg)
Tiada dokumen buktikan Guan Eng batal pengecualian cukai Yayasan Albukhary - Saksi
Tiada dokumen yang menunjukkan bahawa Lim Guan Eng telah membatalkan pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary semasa beliau memegang jawatan Menteri Kewangan.
![Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720605165_tbHusseinOmarKhan.jpg)
Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: 26 saksi dirakam keterangan - KP Selangor
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan berkata antara saksi yang dirakam keterangan mereka termasuklah rakan Allahyarham Nur Farah Kartini, rakan sekerja suspek dan saksi awam.
![27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal 27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721213446_HngMooiLye.jpg)
27 anjing mati disyaki diracun, JPV kesal tiada aduan awal
Tiada tindakan lanjut dapat diambil termasuk siasatan punca kematian haiwan berkenaan kerana kelewatan melaporkan insiden itu.
![Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721019915_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan
Biden sebelum ini berkata keadaan kesihatannya tidak memerlukan pemeriksaan tambahan, tetapi beliau bersedia jika doktor memintanya.
![Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/51696910524_PUTRAPERDANA.jpg)
Perundangan baharu diperkenal kawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan - Pejabat PM
Satu perundangan baharu akan diperkenalkan bertujuan mengawal selia Badan Berkanun Persekutuan (BBP) serta syarikat-syarikat di bawahnya.
![MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721211871_MCMCKomenJelik.jpg)
MCMC siasat empat lagi individu, didakwa buat komen jelik dan provokatif
Secara keseluruhan enam suspek disiasat berhubung komen jelik dan provokatif menerusi siaran ulangan sesi Parlimen di platform media sosial
![Harga petrol, diesel kekal hingga 24 Julai Harga petrol, diesel kekal hingga 24 Julai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61717993469_RON.jpg)
Harga petrol, diesel kekal hingga 24 Julai
Kementerian Kewangan dalam kenyataan hari ini memaklumkan harga runcit diesel di Sabah, Sarawak dan Labuan kekal pada paras RM2.15 seliter.