Comments for Email Lowers IQ

Email Lowers IQ

2005-06-01T17:44:21Z

Email distraction lowers IQ according to a recent British study. A study determined that distractions caused by email found that people who do frequent email or SMS suffer a 10-point IQ drop - more than twice the IQ drop caused by marijuana (4 pts). The study found the IQ of those who tried to juggle messages and work fell by 10 points -- the equivalent to missing a whole night's sleep

According to CNN, workers distracted by phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana. The constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling tired and lethargic, according to a survey carried out by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard. You can read the full story here, but please, please do not forward the link to your friends.

Comment from John Caruso on 2005-06-01

2005-06-01T17:58:16Z

How does one "instantaneously" measure a person's IQ?

Seems fishy to me.

Secondly, I bet there are lots of thinks that temporarily lower one's IQ.

For instance, when a beautiful woman enters a room - every man in the room has their IQ drop by 30.

If she smiles at a particular man, he drops another 10pts.

If she laughs at his stupid jokes the man has the IQ of a vegetable.

Comment from Michelle P. on 2005-06-01

2005-06-01T18:37:15Z

I find this interesing and I wonder if reading e-mail and working in an environment that deals with e-mail, IMs and such is the culprit to the lowering of attention span? No joke. I am finding my attention span is nothing compared to what it was and reading a book has become a task. But if my IQ is significantly lower, then I will really start to worry.

Comment from isulong seoph on 2006-06-25

2006-06-25T07:56:46Z

I find this information very interesting and in fact I've been having some "tireness" when replying to different subject e-mails everyday. I've also read an article some months ago regarding this phenomenon http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002087.html

Comment from Matt on 2009-05-06

2009-05-06T11:20:04Z

My IQ has dropped 30 points in 6 years and I feel really really dumb and lost the ability to play Fur Elise :(

Comment from Dan on 2009-07-16

2009-07-16T21:48:35Z

Reduce email distractions. Email doesn't make you dumb, it's just a symptom of taking on too much, which is probably in itself a symptom of something substantial - like personal esteem or knowing your goals, etc.

So, deal with the underlying causes (lifetime journey) and take on the symptoms (email/sms). Reducing your email distractions and other mental overhead is one way to do it. You're not stupid, you're too mentally taxed!