RT Journal Article
T1 Interference of Cellular Phone Conversations with Visuomotor Tasks: An ERP Study
A1 García Larrea, Luis
A1 Perchet, Caroline
A1 Perrin, Fabien
A1 Amenedo Losada, María Elena
K1 Attention
K1 Arousal
K1 Event-related potentials
K1 Mobile phones
K1 Cellular phones
K1 CNV
K1 Readiness potential
K1 P3
AB The use of mobile phones has been shown to increase drivers’ reaction times (RTs), but whether this results frominterference with attention, stimulus identification, or response production remains unclear. We recorded RTs and event-relatedbrain potentials (ERPs) reflecting speed of stimulus processing, attentional allocation, and preparedness to respond during a visualreaction task performed with or without the concomitant use of a mobile phone, in either “hands-free” or “phone-in-hand”operating modes. As expected, maintaining a phone conversation increased RTs to visual targets, this effect being associated withcomplex ERP effects. Phone conversations did not appear to delay target detection times, as assessed by N2–P3 latencies, but didsignificantly decrease stimulus-induced alerting and attentional allocation (P3 amplitude) and interfered with motor preparationprocesses (readiness potential). P3 amplitude drop was identical whatever the mode of phone use, while decrease of readinesspotential was progressive from the “hands-free” to the “phone-in-hand” condition. These results suggest that two mechanismscontributed to degrade performance in this experiment: first, a general decrease of attention to sensory inputs, characteristic of“dual-task” situations, probably acting through a delay in sensory-motor transfer times. This effect was independent of whetherthe phone was handled or “hands-free.” Conversely, the second factor was specifically sensitive to manipulation of the phone andcaused a weakening of the readiness to respond with a motor act.
PB Hogrefe
SN 0269-8803
YR 2001
FD 2001
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/23229
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/23229
LA eng
NO García-Larrea, L.; Perchet, C.; Perrin, F.; Amenedo, E.(2001).Interference of cellular phone conversations with visuomotor tasks: An ERP study. Journal of Psychophysiology, 15, 14-21. doi: 10.1027//0269-8803.15.1.14
NO This version of the article may not completely replicate the final authoritative version published in Journal of Psychophysiology at  https://doi.org/10.1027//0269-8803.15.1.14. It is not the version of record and is therefore not suitable for citation. Please do not copy or cite without the permission of the author(s)
NO This work was supported by the “MAIF Foundation for Acident Research” (“Fondation MAIF de Recherche sur les Risques Accidentels,” and benefited from discussions with Dr. G. Pachiaudi and A. Chapon, researchers at the INRETS (Institut National sur la Recherche sur les Transports et leur Sécurité)
DS Minerva
RD 30 abr 2026