Episode 7
Sighing It Out: The Surprising Link Between Breathing and Reading on Screens vs. Paper
This podcast episode delves into the fascinating differences between reading on smartphones and traditional paper, revealing that comprehension scores are significantly lower when reading on screens. The discussion highlights a unique study from 2022 that not only measures brain activity but also explores the physiological effects of reading, such as breathing patterns. Interestingly, participants sighed more while reading on paper, a phenomenon linked to cognitive processing and mental effort. The episode connects these findings to how our breathing, or lack thereof, while reading on screens may lead to cognitive overload and hinder comprehension. As technology becomes an integral part of our reading habits, the hosts encourage listeners to reflect on how their reading medium affects their understanding and focus.
Paper Referenced:
Honma, M., Masaoka, Y., Iizuka, N. et al. Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension. Sci Rep 12, 1589 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05605-0
Link - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05605-0#citeas
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Transcript
Hi, all.
Parv:Welcome to this audio project where we decode the science of human behavior with a twist.
Parv:I'm Parv, and this podcast brings to you AI generated conversations that simplify complex hidden patterns that shape our decisions, emotions, and actions.
Parv:A while ago, I started using NotebookLM to help me translate academic research that talked about hidden internal patterns that make us us.
Parv:So let's dive in and uncover the unique algorithm that makes you you.
Speaker B:Hey, everyone, and welcome back.
Speaker B:We're diving deep into something you do probably every day, reading.
Speaker B:But we're adding a twist and looking at how reading on your phone really compares to reading on paper.
Speaker B:No, I'm not talking about eye strain.
Speaker B: super fascinating study from: Speaker B:And they measured brain activity and get this.
Speaker B:Breathing.
Speaker C:That's right.
Speaker C:And it's so interesting because the study isn't just asking, like, what you read, but how you read it.
Speaker C:They're really looking at the physiological effects, which could totally change how we think about, you know, choosing between our phone and a physical book.
Speaker B:Okay, so let's jump right into the findings.
Speaker B:Did they confirm what a lot of us already suspect about screens?
Speaker C:Well, one thing they found was that comprehension scores were significantly lower when people were reading on a smartphone compared to reading on paper.
Speaker C:But here's the catch.
Speaker C:Reading time and viewing distance were, like, basically the same for both.
Speaker C:So it's not that people were, like, rushing or struggling to see the words on their phone.
Speaker C:Something else must be going on.
Speaker B:Hmm.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's where the breathing part comes in.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:Measuring breathing during reading, that's not something you see every day.
Speaker B:So what did they find?
Speaker C:Yeah, they tracked these breathing patterns through the whole experiment, and they found that both mediums, phone and paper, led to faster, shallower breathing compared to just resting.
Speaker C:But get this.
Speaker C:Only when reading on paper did the participants sigh more.
Speaker B:Wait, sighs.
Speaker B:Like, those big exhales, you know, when we're, like, thinking hard or feeling stressed?
Speaker B:I never would have thought to measure those.
Speaker C:Yeah, it's a very unique approach, and it yielded some very interesting results.
Speaker C:You see, sighs aren't just random.
Speaker C:They're actually linked to, like, how much mental effort you're using.
Speaker C:And sighs can help regulate your breathing and brain activity.
Speaker C:They're like mini resets for your system.
Speaker B:So paper made people sigh more, but smartphones didn't.
Speaker B:So what does that tell us?
Speaker C:Well, this raises a really important question.
Speaker C:Could this lack of sighing while reading on a smartphone be connected to those Lower comprehension scores we talked about.
Speaker C:To answer that, we have to look at what's going on inside the brain.
Speaker B:All right, let's bring on the brain scans.
Speaker B:What did they learn about brain activity?
Speaker C:Okay, so they use this technique called nirs.
Speaker C:That stands for functional near infrared spectroscopy.
Speaker C:Basically, it lets them observe activity in the prefrontal cortex.
Speaker C:You can think of the prefrontal cortex as, like, your brain's command center.
Speaker C:It handles things like planning, decision making, and language processing.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:So were our brains basically slacking off while reading on our phones?
Speaker C:Not quite.
Speaker C:Actually, they saw that activity in the prefrontal cortex actually increased during reading for both paper and phones, compared to, like, just resting.
Speaker C:However, and this is where it gets really interesting.
Speaker C:Reading on a smartphone caused significantly higher activity, especially in the left side of the prefrontal cortex.
Speaker C:And remember, that area plays a huge role in how we process language.
Speaker B:Hold on.
Speaker B:So more brain activity means our brains are working harder, right?
Speaker B:So shouldn't that mean better comprehension, not worse?
Speaker C:That's what you'd think, right?
Speaker C:But it's not always the case.
Speaker C:Sometimes pushing a part of your brain too hard can actually backfire and hurt performance.
Speaker C:Think of it like if you were trying to solve a tricky math problem in a loud, chaotic room.
Speaker C:Your brain's firing on all cylinders, but it's not really processing things effectively.
Speaker B:Interesting.
Speaker B:Okay, so we have lower comprehension scores with smartphones, fewer size, and more brain activity.
Speaker B:How do these findings all fit together?
Speaker B:Did this study connect the dots?
Speaker C:Yes, they did.
Speaker C:To untangle all these findings, the researchers used a statistical method called path analysis.
Speaker C:And what they found was, like, truly remarkable link between size, brain activity, and comprehension.
Speaker C:Like a big aha moment.
Speaker C:What they found was that increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex was actually linked to a decrease in size.
Speaker C:And here's the big aha moment.
Speaker C:That same increase in left prefrontal cortex activity was directly linked to lower comprehension score.
Speaker B:Whoa.
Speaker B:So you're telling me those little sighs we do without even thinking could actually be helping us understand what we're reading?
Speaker B:That's why.
Speaker C:I know, right?
Speaker C:It really is.
Speaker C:It seems like those sigh.
Speaker C:Those little pauses we take might be, like, crucial for regulating our breathing and giving our brains a chance to actually, like, process information?
Speaker C:You know, when we're just glued to our phone, scrolling and scrolling, with all these notifications popping up, we might actually be preventing those sighs from happening.
Speaker B:This shallow breathing and lack of size, is that what might be causing the cognitive overload that we see reflected in the brain activity?
Speaker C:Yeah, it's Certainly possible.
Speaker C:Think about it.
Speaker C:You're on your phone, your brain's working overtime trying to process all this text, but you're not taking those breaks to breathe deeply and reset.
Speaker C:It's kind of like running a marathon without stopping to catch your breath.
Speaker B:Eventually your performance is going to suffer.
Speaker C:Okay, so what does this all mean for us?
Speaker C:Should we all just ditch our E readers and go back to paper books?
Speaker C:Well, it's not quite that simple.
Speaker C:I mean, it's important to remember this was just one study.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And we need a lot more research to really understand the long term effects of reading on screens.
Speaker C:But I think this research offers, like, a really fascinating glimpse into how our physiology and technology are intertwined.
Speaker C:You know what I mean?
Speaker C:It suggests that it's not just about eye strain.
Speaker C:It's about how our bodies and brains respond to screens which might be affecting our ability to deeply understand what we read.
Speaker B:Yeah, like if we zoom out a little bit, I mean, we're spending more and more time on screens every day for work, for fun, for connecting with people.
Speaker B:Could this constant screen time be affecting our thinking in ways we haven't even realized?
Speaker C:That's the million dollar question, isn't it?
Speaker C:And it's one that researchers are just beginning to explore.
Speaker C:There's this growing evidence, you know, that our digital habits can have a big impact on our attention spans, our sleep, even our mental wellbeing.
Speaker C:And this study adds like another layer to that whole conversation, suggesting that even our breathing might be affected.
Speaker C:And that could be impacting our ability to like, think critically and understand complex information.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's not just about what we read, but how we read it.
Speaker B:The medium itself seems to matter on a physiological level.
Speaker B:What stood out to you most from this research?
Speaker C:You know, for me, it was that connection between size, brain activity and comprehension.
Speaker C:It really highlights how interconnected our bodies are, you know, and how even small changes in our physiology can have a ripple effect on our cognitive abilities.
Speaker C:It also makes you realize how important paying attention to your breathing can be, especially when you're doing something mentally demanding.
Speaker B:Oh, that's a great point.
Speaker B:We hear so much about mindfulness and meditation for focus and well being.
Speaker B:Could simply being more aware of our breathing, maybe even taking a few deep breaths while reading on our phones, help counteract some of these negative effects?
Speaker C:Now that is a fascinating question.
Speaker C:It's definitely something worth exploring.
Speaker C:It's possible that building mindful breathing practices into our digital routines could help, you know, like, maybe reduce some of the cognitive strain that comes with all the screen time.
Speaker C:We do.
Speaker C:Imagine a world where your E reader, like, reminds you to take a deep breath every few pages, or your phone prompts you to pause and sigh before you dive into a long article.
Speaker B:Oh, I love that.
Speaker B:It's like a MIDI digital detox built into our devices.
Speaker B:It'd be really cool to see if even, like, small changes like that could actually make a difference.
Speaker B:Difference in how well we comprehend things.
Speaker B:And just like our overall cognitive performance.
Speaker C:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:And it really highlights the need for more research.
Speaker C:You know, research that not only looks at the negative impacts of technology, but also explores potential solutions and strategies for using it in ways that are both beneficial and sustainable.
Speaker B:Yeah, we need to start thinking about tech that works with our bodies, not against them.
Speaker C:Absolutely.
Speaker C:I mean, this study really shows us how powerful it can be to understand the connection between our bodies and our technology.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know what I mean?
Speaker C:It can lead to all sorts of new insights and maybe even better ways to integrate technology into our lives.
Speaker B:Yeah, it really makes you think about how much we take breathing for granted.
Speaker C:It's easy to forget, right?
Speaker C:Especially when we're, like, so engrossed in the digital world.
Speaker C:But our breath is such a powerful tool, and if we can learn to use it intentionally, it could be, like, the key to better focus, better comprehension, and maybe even a healthier relationship with our devices.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker B:This whole discussion has really gotten me thinking about reading differently.
Speaker B:It's not just about the words on the page or screen.
Speaker B:It's like our whole physical experience and what's happening inside our bodies, too.
Speaker C:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:This study reminds us that we're not just brains floating around, you know, processing information.
Speaker C:We're physical beings.
Speaker C:And the state of our bodies has a huge impact on our ability to think and learn.
Speaker C:And as we spend more and more time with technology, we need to be considering not only the content we're taking in, but also how the way we're consuming it might be affecting us both mentally and physically.
Speaker B:That makes sense.
Speaker B:I've been thinking about, you know, all those people who actually prefer reading on their screens.
Speaker B:Like, maybe they find it easier or more convenient, or they just love all those extra features that E readers offer.
Speaker B:Does this research mean they're doing something wrong?
Speaker C:Well, it's really important to remember that everyone is different.
Speaker C:We all have our own preferences and our own ways of learning.
Speaker C:This study doesn't mean that reading on a screen is bad for everyone.
Speaker C:It just highlights some of the potential physiological things that might be happening under the surface.
Speaker C:Some people might be less affected by these things or Maybe they've figured out ways to adjust without even realizing it.
Speaker B:Yeah, maybe they're just really good at sighing.
Speaker C:Haha.
Speaker C:Perhaps.
Speaker C:It would be really interesting to see future research explore, you know, those individual differences, like, what are the factors that make someone more or less likely to experience these cognitive effects?
Speaker C:There's still so much we need to learn.
Speaker B:I'm curious, you know, if we can train our brains to focus, to meditate, to learn new things, could we potentially train ourselves to read more effectively on screens?
Speaker B:Like, could we learn to control our breathing, to consciously take those sides even when we're, you know, in the middle of the digital world?
Speaker C:That is such a good question.
Speaker C:And it really speaks to the incredible adaptability of the human brain.
Speaker C:We know it has the potential to change and evolve in response to our environment.
Speaker C:So maybe the future of reading won't just be about, you know, fancy new technology, but also about better understanding our own physiology and how to work with it.
Speaker B:So a final thought for our listeners to ponder.
Speaker B:Pay attention to your breathing.
Speaker B:You might be surprised how much it impacts your reading comprehension, especially on screens.
Speaker B:We would love to hear about your experiences.
Speaker B:Have you noticed a difference in your focus or understanding when you're reading on different mediums?
Speaker B:Let us know what you think.
Speaker B:And as always, thanks for joining us on the deep dive.
