Emma Campbell, Pierre-Majorique Léger, Élise Labonté-LeMoyne, Sylvain Sénécal, Marc Fredette, Franco Lepore and Dang Nguyen Tech3Lab, HEC Montreal, Montreal, Canada Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Department of psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada Centre hospitalier Notre-Dame, Montreal, Canada Abstract. Texting while walking is a widespread and dangerous behaviour. Efforts are being put towards the development of mobile applications to refrain users from engaging in this behavior. The study of the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying this behavior will help developers aim specific cognitive processes. This study uses intracranial electroencephalography to increase our spatial understanding of the processes implicated in mobile multitasking. We asked a subject implanted with 128 electrodes to engage in a texting conversation while having to discriminate a point-light walker’s direction. We discuss our results and methodological learning from this pilot study.

1. Mobile Multitasking Distraction:
An Intracranial EEG pilot study.
Emma Campbell, Pierre-Majorique Léger, Élise Labonté-
Lemoyne, Sylvain Sénécal, Marc Fredette, Franco Lepore &
Dang Nguyen

2. Funding
Partners Team
A special thank you…
Co-Authors
• Pierre-Majorique Léger
• Élise Labonté-Lemoyne
• Sylvain Sénéval
• Marc Fredette
• Franco Lepore
• Dang Nguyen
Research Team
• Manon Robert
• Olivier Boucher
• Tech3Lab’s
Research Team

3. 1. Mobile multitasking distraction
2. Study 1: Texting while walking
• Methods
• Results and Discussion
3. Why use Intracranial EEG
4. Study 2: Mobile Multitasking Distraction – Intracranial EEG pilot
• Methods
• Results and Discussion
5. Future Directions
Presentation Plan

4. Mobile Multitasking Distraction - Statistics
• 91% of adults used a cellphone in 2013 in the United
states. [1]
• Mobile use is recognized as one of the most important
distraction cause in automobile accidents. [2]
• Injuries related to the use of mobile phone involving
pedestrians exceeded those of drivers in 2010. [3]
Mobile Multitasking:
Performing one or more
information technology tasks
while in movement [4]

5. Mobile Multitasking Distraction – Studies
 In reality, MMt leads to dangerous behaviours
• Less likely to acknowledge other walkers [5]
• Increased time taken to cross a stress [6]
 In a virtual environment, MMt led to a decrease in safety
measures
• Decreased tendency to look on both sides before crossing
[7]
• Increased duration of time looking away from the street
[8]
Switch cost
Performance decrease due to
Task Set Reconfiguration [9]

6. TEXTING
WALKING
Study 1: Texting while Walking [10]
Results
Chances of accuracy decrease
by 18.9% (exp(β)=0.209; p-
value=0.014) (N=54)
The relations between alpha
ratios and the performances
differ significantly (p=0.032)
between the two conditions
at Pz. (N=25)
TEXTING
WALKING
TEXTING
WALKING
22 trials
12 min

7. Why use ECoG?
Expand our understanding of
this dangerous behavior

8. Why use ECoG?
• Raise awareness about user’s
cognitive state when mobile
multitasking
• Develop applications aiming at
stimulating the implicated
neuronal circuit

9. Study 2 : MMt Distraction - ECoG pilot
TEXTING
WALKING
TEXTING
CONTROL
TEXTING
CONTROL
22 trials
12 min
Intracranial
Electroencephalography

10. Study 2 : MMt Distraction - ECoG pilot
Time-Frequency analysis for each
electrode presenting a difference in the
engagement ratio between the two
tasks.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS : Top
20% electrodes with greater
differences in the engagement
ratio between the two tasks

12. References
[1] cell phone ownership hits 91% of adults – Pew Research Center. 2013; Available from: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-
tank/2013/06/06/cell-phone-ownership-hits-91-of-adults/.
[2] Owens, J.M., McLaughi, S.B. & Sudweeeks, J. Driver performance while text messaging using handheld and in-vehicle systems. Accident
Analysis & Preention, 2011. 43(3): p. 939-947
[3] Nasar, J.L. and D. Troyer, Pedestrian injuries due to mobile phone use in public places. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2013. 57​ (0): p. 9195.
[4] Léger, P.-M., Sénécal, S. Cameron, A.-F., Bellavance, F., Faubert, J. and Fredette, M. Travailler à l’extérieur des frontières de l’organisation : Un
modèle pour étudier les effets des multitâches technologiques en contexte piétonnier. Proceedings of the Congrès de l’Association des Sciences
Administratives du Canada (ASAC), Alberta (2013)
[5] Hyman, I.E., Boss, S.M., Wise, B.M., McKenzie, K.E. & Caggiano, J.M. Did you see the unicycling clown? Inattentional blindness while walking
and talking on a cellphone. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2012. 24(5): p. 597-607
[6] Thompson, L.L., Rivara, F.P., Ayyagari, R.C & Ebel, B.E., Impact of social and technological distraction on pedestrian crossing behaviour: An
observational study. Injury Prevention, 2013. 19(4): p.232-237
[7] Schwebel, D.C., Stavrinos, D., Byington, K.W., Davis, ., O’Neal, E.E. & de Jong, D., Distraction and pedestrian safety: How talking on the phone,
texting and listening to music impact crossing the street. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2012. 45(0): p. 266-271
[8]Byington, K.W. & Schwebel, D.C., Effects of mobile Internet use on college student pedestrian injury risk. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2013.
51: P.78-83
[9]Wylie, H., & Allport, A., Task switching and the measurement of switch costs. Psychological Research, 2000. 63(3-4): p. 212-233
[10] Courtemanche, F., Léger, P.-L., Cameron, A.-F., Faubert, J., Labonté-Lemoyne, É., Sénécal, S., Fredette, M., Bellavance, S.: Texting While
Walking: Measuring the Impact on Pedestrian Visual Attention. Gmunden Retreat on NeuroIS 2014. Austria (2014)