Reading on smartphone causes sigh inhibition with brain overactivity and comprehension decline

Abstract Electronic devices have become an indispensable part of our lives, while negative aspects have been reported. One downside is that reading comprehension is reduced when reading from electronic device, but the cause of this is unclear. In this study, we investigated a cause for the decline in comprehension by simultaneously measuring respiration and brain activity during reading from a smartphone medium, on thirty-four healthy individuals. Here we found that, compared to a paper medium, reading from the smartphone elicits a suppression of sigh, brain overactivity in prefrontal cortex, and decline in reading comprehension. Furthermore, a path analysis suggests that interactive relationship between sigh inhibition and overactivity in prefrontal cortex causes the comprehension decline. These findings provide new insight into a respiration-mediated mechanism of cognitive function.