Background Despite widespread integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, the relationship between technology use and academic achievement remains paradoxical. Educational psychology theories emphasize self-efficacy as a critical mediator of learning outcomes, yet its role in technology-mediated learning environments requires empirical clarification. Objective This study examined the psychological mechanisms underlying the ICT-achievement relationship, testing whether self-efficacy beliefs mediate technology's impact on mathematics performance among adolescents. Method Using PISA 2022 data from 5,237 Japanese 15 years old, we employed multiple regression with backward elimination to identify parsimonious predictors of mathematics achievement. Variables included five ICT measures (school use, home use, subject-specific use, weekday use, self-efficacy), three psychological constructs (mathematics self-efficacy, study motivation, perceived teacher support), and demographic controls. Results Six predictors explained 35.4% of variance. Mathematics self-efficacy emerged as the dominant predictor (β = 0.46, p < 0.001), far exceeding all technology variables. Notably, general ICT use showed negative associations (school ICT: β = −0.08; ICT self-efficacy: β = −0.09; weekday use: β = −0.07), while only pedagogically aligned ICT use predicted positive outcomes (β = 0.05). Socioeconomic status was the second strongest predictor (β = 0.24). Conclusion Psychological factors, particularly domain-specific self-efficacy beliefs, supersede technological access in predicting achievement. These findings address the practical application of the ICT paradox in the field of education: frequent use of technology without a teaching purpose may increase cognitive load and distraction, thereby weakening learning outcomes. Educational intervention measures should prioritize the development of self-efficacy and purposeful integration of technology, rather than merely providing opportunities for digital access.

Profiling crash-associated factors and injury risk patterns among lost-in-thought (daydreaming) drivers: a combined cluster-sequence analysis approach.

Cognitive reappraisal and attentional distraction constitute two core strategies for regulating emotions. Prior studies have largely focused on young adults regulating simple laboratory stimuli, with few direct comparisons of brain regions that differentiate or mutually implement these strategies. Here, we expanded the typical age range of participants, compared reappraisal and distraction within participants, and used ecologically valid autobiographical memories as regulatory targets. Sixty-two healthy adults aged 35-75 years generated cue words for negative and neutral autobiographical memories and were trained to either reappraise, distract, or let their emotions flow naturally in response to cued memories. Strategy-specific contrasts were derived from whole-brain fMRI data using univariate analyses. For reappraisal, relative to flow, we observed activity in bilateral occipital cortex, right cerebellum, and cingulate cortex and primarily left-sided frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices. Distraction, relative to flow, engaged bilateral lateral prefrontal, medial parietal, cingulate, occipital, and retrosplenial regions and left cerebellum. Common areas of activation included midline occipital and posterior cingulate cortices. Direct comparisons yielded strategy differences across multiple cortical areas: distraction engaged paralimbic areas (insula and left parahippocampal gyrus), dorsolateral and ventrolateral PFC, and right inferior frontoparietal cortex, whereas reappraisal engaged dorsomedial PFC, left ventrolateral PFC, anterior temporal cortex, and left posterolateral PFC. In-scanner valence ratings verified the efficacy of the experimental manipulation and revealed a negative impact of age on reappraisal success, which was correlated with greater visual cortical processing. These findings extend knowledge regarding the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation across the adult lifespan for autobiographical events.

Multi-Modality physiological signal analysis for driver cognitive distraction detection using Spectral Domain Reconstruction Graph Neural Network

This study examines how structured interventions influence team creativity on a metaverse-based collaboration platform. Using B.sket, a custom virtual workspace, we tested two interventions during an online brainstorming task: (1) real-time participation feedback delivered as a communication barcode showing each member's speaking time and sequence (an informational cue), and (2) a group norm communication encouraging equal participation (a social-normative cue). Eighty-one university students in South Korea, recruited through online advertisements using a convenience sampling method, participated in a 2 (group norm prompt: provided vs. not) × 2 (participation feedback: provided vs. not) between-subject factorial design. Team creativity was evaluated by fluency, flexibility, and originality. Results revealed that, contrary to expectations, participation feedback significantly reduced idea fluency and showed marginally negative effects on flexibility and originality. The group norm prompt produced no significant improvements in creativity. We speculate that these findings can be explained by self-determination theory and ego depletion theory, such that real-time participation feedback may undermine individuals' sense of autonomy and induce cognitive distraction, thereby reducing creative performance. We discuss practical implications that team process interventions for promoting equal participation should be designed carefully to avoid these unexpected consequences.

Background: Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome (MGJWS) is a rare congenital synkinesis in which involuntary elevation of a ptotic eyelid occurs during jaw movement. Classically, it is elicited through voluntary mandibular movements such as opening the mouth or moving the jaw sideways. Unilateral choanal atresia is a congenital nasal airway obstruction that can remain undiagnosed into adulthood. The coexistence of these two entities has been poorly defined. Case Presentation: We report an atypical case of a 19-year-old female who presented with marked, prominent, and readily visible unilateral eyelid elevation that occurred only during actual mastication. Moreover, during routine examination, there was no ptosis at rest, and the phenomenon could not be elicited when the patient was asked to open or close her mouth. Additionally, eyelid elevation was observed in cognitive distraction or daydreaming with no explicit jaw movement or food-related stimuli. Additional medical examination showed ipsilateral choanal atresia and a history of nasal obstruction with persistent nasal discharge on the same side since childhood. Results: The clinical findings were consistent with atypical presentation of Marcus Gunn jaw-winking syndrome characterized by non-volitional triggers, absence of ptosis at rest, and association with ipsilateral choanal atresia. Conclusion: This case demonstrates a rare case of atypical MGJWS with non-volitional triggers and mentions the rare presence of ipsilateral choanal atresia. The results suggest shared embryological or neurodevelopmental mechanisms and broaden the clinical spectrum of MGJWS.

Driver's Cognitive Distraction Detection Using Visual Attention

This study develops a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) -based two-level fusion model to identify cognitive distractions of metro drivers using their Electrocardiography (ECG) features and three types of functional near-infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS) features (ΔOxyHb, ΔDeoxyHb, and ΔTotalHb). The model incorporates feature-level and decision-level fusions. Feature-level fusion combines ECG and fNIRS features to create a unified feature set, while decision-level fusion applies independent classifiers for ECG, fNIRS, and combined data to make final identification. For comparison, several alternative models are developed. Results indicate that the proposed two-level fusion model outperforms the non-fusion, feature-level fusion, and decision-level fusion models. Among the alternative models, those incorporating feature-level fusion outperform decision-level or non-fusion models. The feature-level fusion model that combines three types of fNIRS features demonstrates superior performance. Furthermore, all ECG features and 54.1% of fNIRS features show significant differences across the distraction levels. Drivers’ prefrontal cortex is more active during cognitive distractions.

BackgroundCouples undergoing fertility treatment experience emotional stress. Meta-analyses show heterogeneous results regarding the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on anxiety and depression.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to reduce psychosocial stress (anxiety, depression) in infertile patients. In addition, pregnancy rates and perceived distraction as well as perceived subjective relief were determined.MethodsIn a two-arm RCT we used “Positive Adjustment Coping Intervention (PACI)”. Participants received the first of 13 daily text messages on their smartphones on the day on which the cryopreserved embryos were thawed or one day after oocyte aspiration. Patients in the PACI condition obtained daily positive adjustment statements and were asked to relate these to their personal situation at least twice a day. Patients in the comparison condition were given daily think tasks providing cognitive distraction. Anxiety and depression scores were assessed with ScreenIVF and perceived distraction as well as relief with an evaluation form.ResultsPACI did not reduce participant´s depressive scores measured with standardized questionnaire (P < .007, N = 227), did not significantly change participant´s anxiety (N = 227), nor did it increase pregnancy rates (N = 191). PACI had a significant effect on subjective perceived distraction (P = .005, N = 197) and on perceived relief (P = .026, N = 197).ConclusionThis is the first RCT to use modern media to test a simple positive adjustment cognition intervention in women and men who underwent fertility treatment. The low-dose psychosocial intervention apparently was not sufficient to reduce emotional distress during the waiting period between embryo transfer and pregnancy test. Preferably, psychosocial support for infertile individuals could be provided face-to-face to reduce the target variables depression and anxiety. However, PACI has a positive influence on perceived distraction and perceived relief.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03118219 (July 9, 2019)

Couples undergoing fertility treatment experience emotional stress. Meta-analyses show heterogeneous results regarding the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to reduce psychosocial stress (anxiety, depression) in infertile patients. In addition, pregnancy rates and perceived distraction as well as perceived subjective relief were determined. In a two-arm RCT we used "Positive Adjustment Coping Intervention (PACI)". Participants received the first of 13 daily text messages on their smartphones on the day on which the cryopreserved embryos were thawed or one day after oocyte aspiration. Patients in the PACI condition obtained daily positive adjustment statements and were asked to relate these to their personal situation at least twice a day. Patients in the comparison condition were given daily think tasks providing cognitive distraction. Anxiety and depression scores were assessed with ScreenIVF and perceived distraction as well as relief with an evaluation form. PACI did not reduce participant´s depressive scores measured with standardized questionnaire (P < .007, N = 227), did not significantly change participant´s anxiety (N = 227), nor did it increase pregnancy rates (N = 191). PACI had a significant effect on subjective perceived distraction (P = .005, N = 197) and on perceived relief (P = .026, N = 197). This is the first RCT to use modern media to test a simple positive adjustment cognition intervention in women and men who underwent fertility treatment. The low-dose psychosocial intervention apparently was not sufficient to reduce emotional distress during the waiting period between embryo transfer and pregnancy test. Preferably, psychosocial support for infertile individuals could be provided face-to-face to reduce the target variables depression and anxiety. However, PACI has a positive influence on perceived distraction and perceived relief. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03118219 (July 9, 2019).

This study fills a research gap by extending previous studies on driver distraction and risky driving behavior beyond specific contexts or distraction types. This meta-analysis assesses the strength of the relationship, heterogeneity, publication bias, and moderators. The literature was searched through PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Elsevier (2015-2025). Of 128 articles, 10 cross-country studies with samples of 165-21,000 respondents passed PRISMA selection. Random-effects analysis with Fisher’s z transformation showed a heterogeneity (I² = 99.63%; Q = 2394.305; p &lt; .001). Publication bias tests (Fail-safe N = 12,234; Egger p = 0.861; Begg p = 0.381; trim-and-fill = 0) showed no bias, and the association between variables remained consistent. Visual, manual, and cognitive distractions increase risky driving behavior. Findings support educational policies, stricter regulations, and distraction-mitigation technologies, and offer novelty in synthesizing the latest cross-national evidence. Keywords: drive distraction, risky driving behavior, meta-analysis, traffic safety, driver attention

Detecting driver cognitive distraction in lane-change behavior: multi-source indicators from intention and execution phases

Talking-associated cognitive distractions have been known to significantly impact physical reactions in response to visual information, leading to an increased crash risk while driving. The visuomotor processes required for driving include gaze behavior, cognitive processes, and responsive physical actions. However, how talking-associated cognitive loads affect the quality of gaze behavior remains unclear. Healthy participants performed center-out eye movements toward a peripheral visual target as quickly and accurately as possible under three different conditions: while verbally communicating (talking), listening to audio clips, or performing nothing other than the eye movement task. We found delays in the time needed to react to, move to, and fixate on a peripherally presented visual target in the talking condition compared with the other two conditions. Our results demonstrate that talking-associated cognitive loads are likely to have a strong enough impact to interfere with neural processes for initiating and controlling eye movement. These findings suggest that delayed physical responses and/or impairments in driving performance under cognitively demanding situations may partly result from delayed visual responses to surrounding events, followed by less accurate eye movement control when directing to and maintaining fixation on those stimuli.

The influence of cognitive distractions and driving experience on hazard perception performance during partially automated driving.

I've got a friend in me: The effect of self-compassion on affect via emotion regulation in adolescents using ecological momentary assessment.

Driver readiness prediction: Bridging cognitive distraction monitoring and in-vehicle decision support systems

Negative social feedback can cause social pain and may damage physical and mental health. In particular, negative social feedback from acquaintances deeply activates the social pain brain network between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the anterior insula, and the amygdala, inducing stronger emotional responses and memories. This study used a social appraisal paradigm to investigate the potential benefits of emotional regulation in the face of negative social feedback from acquaintances, as measured by emotional responses and memories. The results showed that negative social feedback sent by acquaintances induced stronger emotional experiences and deeper negative memories than those sent by strangers. Cognitive reappraisal and distraction could reduce the negative emotions induced by negative social feedback sent by acquaintances; however, they did not affect the forgetting of memories of negative social feedback. Further analyses revealed that the emotion regulation strategy was more effective in alleviating negative emotions in the group with self-reported low-depressive symptoms compared to the group with self-reported high-depressive symptoms. Thus, the study suggests that the effectiveness of emotional regulation strategies varies across different relational contexts.

Despite the exponential growth of education in recent years, the anatomy course is taught in all medical school departments in the early years to provide a strong foundation for medical education and clinical training. Integrating technological innovations such as virtual reality programs that realistically display human anatomy through computer simulation into lectures may benefit medical students in their studies. Therefore, this study aims to suggest a potential use of VR to reduce cognitive loads in the anatomy course in higher education. Twenty third-year medical students at King Abdulaziz University were given a virtual reality headset (Oculus Rift CV1) with the 3D Organon VR Anatomy application in a quasi-experimental design. The data were collected from students who wore the Oculus Rift CV1 and completed five tasks. Students were then asked to fill out three questionnaires about their opinions. These findings should be interpreted in light of the study's small sample size, lack of a control group, and single-gender population. The study's findings revealed that traditional anatomy teaching methods caused cognitive distractions for students. However, virtual reality headsets were associated with a mean cognitive load rating of 19.7, suggesting a potential to reduce cognitive burden. These findings support the argument for using virtual reality headsets in anatomy courses and opening virtual reality labs in medical colleges. Medical faculty should accept and experience virtual reality technology without the fear of students leaving the dissection lab.

Abstract Background: Attention is fundamental to optimal performance in precision sports such as archery. While yoga has consistently been linked to cognitive enhancements, no study has explored its effects on attentional processes in archers. This study evaluated the impact of an 8-week yoga intervention on the Attention Network Test (ANT) outcomes, focusing on the alerting, orienting, and conflict control networks in competitive archers. Methods: This trial enrolled 92 state-level competitive archers aged 12–20 years, randomized into yoga and control groups. The yoga group participated in a 60-min validated yoga module comprising loosening exercises, breathing techniques, asanas, pranayamas, kriyas, meditation, and relaxation, conducted thrice weekly for 8 weeks. The controls continued routine training. The ANT was administered at baseline and post-intervention. Primary outcomes included the efficiencies of the alerting, orienting, and conflict control networks. Secondary outcomes comprised overall accuracy, overall reaction time (RT), and RTs across four cue and three flanker types. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests assessed within-group differences, while repeated measures ANOVA examined between-group differences. Results: Eighty-three participants completed the study (yoga: 43, control: 39). The yoga group exhibited significant improvements in the orienting network (MD = 18.68 [11.69, 25.67], P &lt; 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.261), conflict control network (MD =-36.72 [−44.81, −28.62], P &lt; 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.505), overall accuracy, RTs across all cue types, and the incongruent flanker condition compared to controls. Within-group differences showed significant improvements in all outcome measures for the yoga group, while the control group exhibited improvements only in certain RTs. Conclusion: The 8-week yoga intervention significantly enhanced the orienting and conflict control networks, highlighting the potential of yoga in improving attention in state-level competitive archers. These preliminary findings suggest that yoga is an effective intervention for managing cognitive and emotional distractions during competitions. Future research should examine these effects in elite archers and explore the mediating role of these networks in the relationship between yoga and archery performance.

This study examines the combined effects of green noise and texting on gait to understand how multitasking and auditory stimuli affect walking stability. Green noise, associated with relaxation, was the environmental stimulus; texting the cognitive distractor. We hypothesized texting would reduce cadence and stride length, with green noise either stabilizing or disrupting gait. Ten participants walked on a treadmill under five conditions: normal walking (NW), no texting/sound (WNTNS), sound only (WNTS), texting only (WTNS), and texting with sound (WTS). Gait parameters—step length, step width, single support time, and terminal double support time—were analyzed. Step length decreased in WNTS ( p = .0106) and WTS ( p = .0115) versus NW; step width increased in WTNS ( p &lt; .0001). Single support time was prolonged in WTS; terminal double support time increased in all conditions vs. NW ( p = .0435). Cognitive and environmental distractions alter gait, potentially increasing fall risk. Further research should explore how green noise and texting influence walking stability.