Project description
Controlled testing of attention deficit related to technology use
The technology-related attention decline hypothesis posits that the increasing use of digital technology has led to a decline in cognitive abilities related to attention. Despite its societal importance, the hypothesis has not been rigorously tested. The ERC-funded TRAD project will do so integrating longitudinal data and controlled task-based effects. The team will analyse historical data to see if average attentional abilities have declined and test the impact on attention of the frequency and duration of digital technology use. Combining cognitive psychology, data science and statistics, the project will determine if and how technology use impacts cognitive function.
Objective
Is our digital age eroding our ability to concentrate? With email, smartphones, and social media becoming ever more pervasive, concerns are mounting about the impact of constant digital distractions on our attention. Despite widespread speculation—50% of the UK public believes their attention spans are now shorter (The Policy Institute, 2022)—there is a striking lack of empirical evidence to confirm or refute this Technology-Related Attention Decline (TRAD) hypothesis.
The TRAD hypothesis posits that increased engagement with internet technologies leads to measurable declines in core cognitive abilities related to attention, such as the capacity to direct, sustain, and control focus. This project will be the first to rigorously test this hypothesis through two interconnected work packages: (I) examining historical trends to determine whether average attentional abilities have declined over recent decades, and (II) investigating whether individuals who engage more frequently and for longer durations with digital technologies exhibit poorer attentional abilities.
Importantly, we will employ validated task-based measures of attention—rather than relying on self-reports known to be biased—to obtain objective data on cognitive performance. Leveraging interdisciplinary expertise from cognitive psychology, data science, and statistics, we will analyze existing datasets, collect novel longitudinal data, and conduct intervention studies. The outcomes will not only advance our understanding of how technological and behavioral shifts impact cognitive functions but also provide actionable strategies for educators, technology designers, mental health professionals, and policymakers to mitigate potential negative effects on attention in the digital age.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- social sciences psychology behavioural psychology
- social sciences psychology cognitive psychology mental processes
- social sciences other social sciences development studies social developments
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science big data
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics statistics and probability
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5037 AB Tilburg
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.