Swiping Disrupts Switching: Preliminary Evidence for Reduced Cue-Based Preparation Following Short-Form Video Exposure

作者：Wanying Luo, Xinran Zhao, Bingshan Jiang, Qiang Fu, Juan’er Zheng · 发表于：Behavioral Sciences · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/bs15081070 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies、Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies、Neural dynamics and brain function

The rapid rise of short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels has transformed digital engagement by promoting fragmented, high-tempo swiping behaviors and intense sensory stimulation. While these platforms dominate daily use, their impact on higher-order cognition remains underexplored. This study provides preliminary behavioral experimental evidence that even brief exposure to short-form video environments may be associated with reduced cue-based task preparation, a specific subcomponent of proactive cognitive flexibility. In a randomized between-subjects design, participants (N = 72) viewed either 30 min of TikTok-style content, a neutral documentary, or no video (passive control), followed by a task-switching paradigm with manipulated cue-target intervals (CTIs). As expected, the documentary and control group exhibited significant preparation benefits at longer CTIs, reflected in reduced switching costs-consistent with effective anticipatory task-set updating. In contrast, the short video group failed to leverage extended preparation time, indicating a selective disruption of goal-driven processing. Notably, performance at short CTIs did not differ across groups, reinforcing the interpretation that reactive control remained intact, while proactive preparation was selectively impaired. These findings link habitual "swiping" to disrupted task-switching efficiency-a phenomenon summarized as swiping disrupts switching. These findings suggest that short-form v...