Enhanced cognitive control near the hands.
Recent research has shown that objects near the hands receive preferential visual processing. However, it is not known whether proximity to the hands can affect executive functions. Here we show, using two popular paradigms, that people exhibit enhanced cognitive control for stimuli that are near their hands: We observed reduced interference from incongruent flankers in a visual attention task, and reduced costs when switching to an alternative task in a task-switching paradigm. The results reveal a remarkable influence of posture on cognitive function and have implications for assessing the potential benefits of working on handheld devices.
Blaire J
BJ
Weidler
Richard A
RA
Abrams
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult