Digital Distractions in Reading: Investigating Impact of Cognitive Control Training on Reading Behavior and Outcomes

Characterizing the effects of notifications and pop-ups on reading comprehension, eye movements, and reader experience can deepen our understanding of digital reading behaviors. However, notifications are highly disruptive and can significantly impact reading performance: a challenge not easily mitigated even in controlled lab studies. We experimented (N = 22) to assess the impact of distractions like notifications/pop-ups on reading comprehension, frustration levels, and readability across 10 documents with varied distractions. The collected data include eye-tracking metrics and survey responses. We observed significant disruptions to reading flow, reduced comprehension, and increased frustration among participants with distractions. Furthermore, we examined the impact of cognitive control training on distraction management and comprehension levels, revealing improved comprehension in digital reading environments with distractions. Our findings provide quantitative evidence of the need for notification/pop-up management strategies that minimize disruptions and promote optimal reading experiences, with implications for the design of digital reading interfaces.