“Science That Made Headlines”: Paderborn smartphone study featured in “Scientific Reports” anniversary collection

Renowned journal holds an election for 15 papers from around 185,000 articles

The prestigious journal 'Scientific Reports', part of the 'Nature' portfolio, is celebrating its 15th anniversary and has published a special collection to mark the occasion. 'Editor's Choice: Science That Made Headlines' showcases 15 papers from the past 15 years that have made headlines beyond the scientific community. Among them is the highly acclaimed study 'The mere presence of a smartphone reduces basal attentional performance' by Jeanette Skowronek, Andreas Seifert, and Prof. Dr Sven Lindberg from Paderborn University. Among other things, the researchers found that a smartphone distracts users and affects their attention even when it is switched off and lying on a table.

For this anniversary colllection, the editorial team at 'Scientific Reports' has chosen papers from across all disciplines and all 15 volumes that have sparked global interest and brought science into the headlines, the classroom, and the public debate. Normally, 'Scientific Reports' conducts elections solely on the basis of scientific rigour and explicitly not on the basis of presumed significance. With this anniversary selection, the editorial team is, for the first time, highlighting papers that have had a particularly broad impact on society. Out of around 185,000 articles, 15 have made it into the 'Editor's Choice' collection. An application was not possible, and the selection is not sponsored. The Paderborn study is featured alongside research on an orangutan that self-treats a wound, on Neanderthal fibre technology, on climate damage caused by Bitcoin mining, and on the health benefits of spending 120 minutes in nature each week. "I am delighted that our study is featured in this collection, especially for the whole team. And the fact that the question of what smartphones do to our attention has a place there shows just how much it preoccupies people," says Prof. Lindberg, Head of Clinical Developmental Psychology at Paderborn University.

The study contributes to a growing field of research that investigates how smartphones affect us, even when they are not being used. The work of the Paderborn researchers therefore makes an important contribution to existing research. In a controlled experiment involving participants aged between 20 and 34, the team carried out concentration and attention tests. The result: participants without smartphones demonstrated significantly higher levels of attentional performance. Prof. Lindberg explains: "Attention is a limited resource. Our study shows that even having a smartphone within reach ties up a portion of it. Anyone who wants to work or study with concentration would be well advised to keep the device out of sight."

Those interested can view the smartphone study in the anniversary selection of 'Scientific Reports': www.nature.com/collections/gijffcgjfg

Go directly to the study: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36256-4

This text was translated automatically.