advertisement

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The Pop Psych Project: Distracted Driving: This Is Your Brain On Smartphones

If you see this kid on the road, jump out of the way.
In the last 24 hours, I asked Twitter the best way to convince people to stop using their smartphones while driving. I specifically asked people to be nice in their replies.

Here are my tweets:




I received some great responses, which I highlighted in a 9News article. The best replies had a combination of factual information and concern for safety. Here is an example of one of them (more are posted on the 9News website):



Psychologists know about convincing people to change their behavior--it is what we do for a living. When we do this, we understand it is important to highlight the reasons people need to change (and to do so nicely). In that vein, if you are attempting to convince a friend or family member to stop driving while distracted, here are some reasons you can give them (phrased nicely):

1. Driving while distracted impairs our senses just as much as drunk driving (one caveat: once you stop smartphoning, your faculties return immediately. When you stop drinking, you remain drunk for a while).

2. Reaction times for distracted drivers are at least 40% slower than nondistracted drivers. This number increases with people who are new to driving (i.e. teenagers).

3. Smartphoning while driving uses a high percentage of your "working memory" ability. This is like the RAM in your brain--you only have a certain capacity to juggle tasks. Just like your computer, when you have too many apps running at once, everything slows down.

4. Many drivers make mistakes when they are driving. Distracted drivers make the same types of mistakes that nondistracted drivers make, they just make A LOT more of them.

5. Your brain's electrical activity actually changes when you are distracted. Researchers have been able to blindly look at brain EEGs and determine which were from distracted drivers and which were from nondistracted drivers. So, if you are using your smartphone while driving, your brain is literally impaired.

6. Hands free phones are just as dangerous as holding the phone to your ear. This is a big one--that hands free Bluetooth in your car? You might as well be driving with a drink in your hand (see caveat from point #1).

If you don't believe me on point number 6, I don't blame you. It is hard to fathom. But, a study from February of 2013 demonstrated this phenomenon in startling terms. Using functional MRIs, these researchers determined that nondistracted drivers relied heavily on input from the occipital portion of their brain. This is the portion that controls our vision and interprets visual stimuli. But, distracted drivers (even those who were hands free) stopped using the visual portion of their brains. Instead, the prefrontal cortices of their brains lit up. This is the portion of the brain used for logical thinking and cognitive processing. The fMRI images from distracted drivers showed that they literally stopped seeing what was around them, even though they were free to move their heads wherever they wanted and had both hands on the wheel.


The prefrontal cortex is the front portion of the Frontal Lobe


So, if you try to convince a loved one to stop driving while distracted, be nice about it. And, use the tips above to provide them with some good reasons why they need to change their behavior.

Thanks for reading-- Max Wachtel, Ph.D.
www.CherryCreekPsychology.com
www.Twitter.com/mwachtel
www.Facebook.com/drmaxwachtel
www.YouTube.com/drmaxwachtel

42 comments:

Popular Nippon dressmaker Rei Kawakubo, creator associated with manufacturer Comme des chanel outlet, offers performed a sizable part within the style business because the 80s, as well as caused the kind of Louis Vuitton as well as high-street merchants H&M. Additionally, availability in order to Oriental press, for example movies as well as cartoons, offers created Oriental style most liked within Traditional western culture. Why is Oriental style therefore well-liked may be the pure appearance from the styles. People are gucci replica in order to tailor-make their very own clothes, and thus clothes may appear extremely varied. Oriental clothes offers possible for a number of character, along with every sub-category associated with particular concepts. These types of styles immediately create a person a part of a good incomparable motion. With regard to louis vuitton replica, cult kei, an additional contemporary design, utilizes a variety of special faith based iconography. An additional cause Oriental style is really well-liked is actually which on the internet marketplaces makes it simple to get with regard to customers worldwide. Firms websites louis vuitton replica because auction web sites tend to be seriously used through worldwide retailers providing use of brand new chanel replica as well as unique styles.

Even when selecting a school, they're square measure sure things that you simply ought to inquire regarding, which can assist you decide if this school is for you.
The driving educator ought to be your 1st concern. Raise, however, long your educator has been a driving educator. Pease see the below link for more,

Driving School Santa Barbara

There are stunningly basic courses on the most proficient method to reinforcement PS2 diversions.www.valsoft.org/clashofclanshack/

It is safe to say that you are an energetic PS2 gamer? Need to know how you can reinforcement PS2 diversions?play scary maze game

Taking in these straightforward ways can simply be your ticket to not losing a duplicate of your most loved PS2 recreations until the end of timebus simulator 2015

SSC Result 2017 by Mobile SMS! Hi dears, Welcome to my site SSC Result 2017. In this post, I will demonstrate to you, Proper methodologies to get SSC SSC Result 2017 by Mobile SMS. This is one of the best and choicest strategies these days. Bengali understudies are continually searching for least demanding ways and strategies for gathering their SSC Result 2017.

This comment has been removed by the author.

It is good to read here tips for stop using smartphones while driving. We all know that day by day the use of smartphone can be increase and also traffic is increase. So it’s our duty to be aware when driving & no use of smartphone. We at Dissertation Help UK, providing career related best guidance along with marketing dissertation assistance - http://www.dissertationhelp.uk/marketing-dissertation/ as there are so many students have experienced and challenged issues while writing dissertation. And I am also told about this tips to my students who are most probably come to our consultancy by drive a car.

Something different you share with us in this blog. And it is really serious issue of current generation as they using their smartphones while driving. Being as a psychology personal statement writer and best psychology personal statement sample provider at Personal Statement Folks, I know psychology is both a science and an art. So I am also applying principles and analysing human behavior and mind while writing personal statement for them. And I appreciate you and impressed by you after reading reason which is provide by you as a Psychologists. Thanks.

I am exploring this subject as part of a report I need to do on possible careers I might choose. Thank you for your post it has valuable information on this topic.
Alexandria car service

Excellent post and people around the world will certainly get much through reading it. I’ll come back again and again to read such articles. Thanks! Dulles Airport Limo Service

Thanks for your post! Through your pen I found the problem up interesting! I believe there are many other people who are interested in them just like me! Thanks your shared!... I hope you will continue to have similar posts to share with everyone! I believe a lot of people will be surprised to read this article!
scarymazegames.co
Mineblocks.net

Be that as it may, the other inquiry is, in what manner can the bank confirm or confirm your check? If also need any help to visit here Check Cashing chicago

He is as of now working with Best Payday Loans as a monetary guide. To Find Best payday loans,online payday loans,cash propel payday advances, check cashing san diego


Receive excellent Help with homework  services from the experienced and knowledgeable writers of IrelandAssignmentHelp.com. Our team of specialists work passionately round the clock for students and resolve all their troubles

I am impressed by the quality of information on this website. There are a lot of good resources here. I am sure I will visit this blog again soon. Tanaman Obat Jantung Bengkak


شركة الاول للتنظيف و مكافحة الحشرات شركة الاول للتنظيف و مكافحة الحشرات
شركة جلي بلاط بالرياض شركة جلي بلاط بالرياض
افضل شركة تنظيف اثاث بالرياض افضل شركة تنظيف اثاث بالرياض
شركة تنظيف مجالس بالرياض شركة تنظيف مجالس بالرياض

. Our online pharmacy assignment help subject specialists have numerous long stretches of showing encounter and finish information to compose top-quality assignments UK Assignment help
essay maker online

Smartphones are being cited as the biggest cause of increasing traffic accidents in the world. According to the latest research of Assignment Writing Service experts, looking at your phone for only five seconds while driving blinds you from 300 to 500 meters.

Premature ejaculation occurs when a man has arousal and ejaculates earlier during intercourse than he or his partner prefers. It is a common problem, affecting 30% to 40% of men. Causes include physical problems, chemical imbalances and mental / emotional factors. Treatment includes learning ejaculation techniques, counseling and medication. Here's information about the 조루증치료, more info read on to know.

je lisais ceci Dolabuy Prada vérifiez ce lien ici maintenant sacs de créateurs de répliques ce formulaire de contact https://www.dolabuy.ru/

From the select couture of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and dr rashel whitening serum brand to additional reasonable marks, there is a brand for each style cognizant lady. Women appreciate possessing snappy purses and jazzy embellishments that will allow them to have the real pattern publicity.

This comment has been removed by the author.

Post a Comment

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More