Attention Span and Decision Making
Today’s technological advances have forever shaped how decisions are made and furthermore the length of one’s natural attention span. The inquiry of how shortened attention span can affect decision-making is a subject that is still ambiguous but could be investigated further with the use of techniques and discoveries that originate from Brain M. Sweis’ laboratory and research. Sweis’ laboratory and research examine a variety of topics but specifically prove the idea that mice can directly represent the, originally thought to be human-only, characteristic of “sunk cost”. This proves that mice are extremely valid in representing human characteristics when it comes to decision-making. This research and laboratory setup could be extremely useful in investigating how technology has shortened attention span and thus affected human decision-making as a whole.
In addition to Sweis’ research proving that mice can display a surplus of human characteristics, when it comes to decision making, his research proves that with proper training and programming, specifically with the use of his lab’s set up, mice are able to accurately represent human decision making across a variety of contexts and trials. For example, in conjunction with researching with mice, Sweis and his cohorts ran a multitude of trials for his “sunk cost” effects, with humans. These trials revealed that animals did in fact demonstrate human-like phenomena. Likewise, there were trials in which the decision-making vulnerability for animals with a history of drug use was measured. All of these trials prove that mice can be programmed and trained to display parallel decision-making to humans. Proving that there is a connection of animal behavior to human behavior is the first step in any accurate research and Sweis’ research does just that.
In accordance with the fact that Sweis’ lab has proved the accuracy of mice representing human decision-making, further research can be considered that deals with how the shortening of attention span is affecting decision making. Through the consistent development of technology and social media, it has been proved that there has been a shortening of attention span. According to the article “Smartphones and Cognition: A Review of Research Exploring the Links between Mobile Technology Habits and Cognitive Functioning”, “there is clear evidence that smart devices can have an acute impact on ongoing cognitive task” which further points to the idea that technology is shifting people’s attention spans. This concept of a shifted attention span could possibly correlate to a change in decision-making. It is additionally discussed by the Economic Times that there is even this concept of “popcorn brain” in which this “fast-paced stream information” plays a direct role in the information one’s attention span directs executive controls towards. From what we know about cognition, there is a high probability that decision-making is directly impacted by this interruption of attention. This specific decision-making research could be measured in a similar way to that in Sweis’ lab with the use of mice and the restaurant decision-making task.
There are many avenues for the effects current and emerging technology play on one’s cognitive wiring. Moreover, the importance of attention span in decision-making is unparalleled. Through the use and connection of other works and lab techniques, it is possible to measure the direct effects a shortened attention span has on decision-making in mice and subsequently humans.
Citations:
Sweis, Brian M., et al. “Sensitivity to ‘Sunk Costs’ in Mice, Rats, and Humans.” Science, vol. 361, no. 6398, 2018, pp. 178–181., doi:10.1126/science.aar8644.
Wilmer HH, Sherman LE and Chein JM (2017) Smartphones and Cognition: A Review of Research Exploring the Links between Mobile Technology Habits and Cognitive Functioning. Front. Psychol. 8:605. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00605
“Here's How Technology Affects Our Life - Technology Addiction.” The Economic Times, Economic Times, 14 Jan. 2018, economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/heres-how-technology-affects-our-life/popcorn-brain/slideshow/62497199.cms.
My husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease at 57.his symptoms were shuffling of feet,slurred speech, low volume speech, degradation of hand writing, horrible driving skills, right arm held at 45 degree angle, things were tough for me, but now he finally free from the disease with the help of total cure ultimate health home, he now walks properly and all symptoms has reversed, he had trouble with balance especially at night, getting into the shower and exiting it is difficult,getting into bed is also another thing he finds impossible.we had to find a better solution for his condition which has really helped him a lot,the biggest helped we had was ultimatehealthhome they walked us through the proper steps,am highly recommended this ultimatehealthhome@gmail.com to anyone who needs help.
ReplyDelete