Bracco, G. (2026). "Silent Interference: Does Smartphone Presence Disrupt Cognitive Control?". Open Journal of Humanities, 23: 33-64

Smartphones are ubiquitous and deeply embedded in everyday life. Recent studies suggest that even their mere presence, without active use, may influence attention and performance. The present research investigated whether the effect of smartphone presence on cognitive performance varies with the cognitive control demands of the task. This question was examined across two experiments using the Stroop task and the Stop Signal Test. Participants completed the tasks with or without a smartphone present. No significant differences were found in simpler conditions, such as word reading or color recognition. However, smartphone presence was associated with poorer performance in conditions requiring greater cognitive control. These findings are consistent with the possibility that smartphone presence imposes a passive cognitive cost and may interfere with attention and response inhibition, with potential implications for learning and work environments.