Researchers at St. Bonaventure University will look at how cell phones affect students when they bring them to class.
The work will be done by a new center the western New York university is opening this fall dedicated to research in the areas of attention and learning.
Althea Bauernschmidt is one of the center's founding co-directors. She says that while cell phones can connect people across the globe, they divide students' attention in the classroom. The assistant psychology professor says the harm goes beyond momentary distraction and can cause breakdowns in the way the mind processes information at critical times in the learning and memory process.
The new Center for Attention, Learning & Memory is a joint effort between the School of Education and School of Arts and Sciences.
