Higher Media Multi-Tasking Activity Is Associated with Smaller Gray-Matter Density in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

“…Previous studies have provided evidence that HMMs have increased self-reported mind-wandering and more everyday lapses of attention (Ralph et al, 2014 ), less top-down goal-related attentional selectivity (e.g., Ophir et al, 2009 ; Cain & Mitroff, 2011 ), greater self-reported impulsivity (Minear et al, 2013 ; Sanbonmatsu et al, 2013 ), reduced self-reported self-control (Minear et al, 2013 ), and, as observed here, an increased reliance on fast and automatic system-1 processing, and a reduced ability to delay gratification. We suggest that instead of proactively managing their approach to stimuli in the environment, HMMs may be more reactive – a pattern that has also been demonstrated in older-age participants (e.g., Braver & Barch, 2002 ; Schmitt, Ferdinand, & Kray, 2014 ), and which would be consistent with Loh and Kanai’s ( 2014 ) finding that HMMs have reduced gray-matter density in the anterior cingulate cortex relative to LMMs.…”