From Chris Sharpley
Interruptions can be helpful, or unhelpful (24 June, p 46). Their likely helpfulness is a function not only of who is trying to interrupt us (as judged by the electronic gizmos described by Alison Motluk), but also of our ability to concentrate or perform cognitively at the moment of interruption.
When we are in low or very high arousal states, performance will be poorer than if we are in a moderate arousal state. Our studies found that individuals’ “stress”, as measured by heart rate, was often independent of their physical activity levels and was indicative of the kind of psychological arousal and/or anxiety that hinders problem-solving (Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol 14, p 607).
Perhaps the next challenge for the electronic devices that aim to determine when we are ready to receive interruptions is to monitor our psychophysiological state, decide whether we are open to yet another source of intellectual demand and then respond politely if we are not: “I’m sorry, but the person you want is currently too aroused to speak to you…”
Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia
