I
always thought taking time to stare at cute baby animals on the internet was
distracting me from my work, but actually it turns out this might be helping me
to concentrate – Who knew?
IN BRIEF
In brief
Snapshots of some of
the latest peer-reviewed research within psychology and related fields.
December 2012, Vol 43,
No. 11
Print version: page 16
Photos of cute kittens and cuddly puppies appear to improve
concentration, according to research
conducted at Hiroshima University. More than 130 students were divided into
three groups, with each group assigned a different task — such as picking up
small objects from a hole without brushing the side — to perform twice. During the
break between their tasks, participants were shown pictures of either puppies
and kittens or adult cats and dogs. The researchers found that those who were
shown images of baby animals performed their tasks better after the break than
those who had seen the adults. This may be because cute features not only make
objects and animals more approachable but also induce more careful behavioral
tendencies, which are beneficial in situations requiring focused attention,
such as driving and office work. (PLoS One, online
Sept. 26)
