Background

The technological innovation of smartphones and various software has made our lives more convenient. However, the negative effects of our excessive dependence on them cannot be overlooked.

Objectives

The purpose of this scoping review was to understand the relationship between the use of smartphones and our cognitive functions, as well as to present important research directions for the future.

Material and methods

All relevant literature, published as of 1 March 2020, was searched using the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO. The framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, which has a review process of five stages, was used for the review.

Results

Overuse of smartphones was found to be related to decrease concentration, working memory and cognitive suppression. In particular, the results of concentration and cognitive restraint function could be interpreted as a result of the impulsive behaviour pattern of an individual, and the results of working memory could be explained by the principle of overload due to the limitation of the user’s working memory capacity. The association between smartphone usage levels and cognitive functions was compared. The results of this scoping review highlight the need for future research to thoroughly assess the user’s impulse and associated cognitive functions for smartphone use.

Conclusions

Furthermore, it will be necessary to consider ways to improve user convenience by developing therapeutic paradigms that can reduce the overuse of smartphones.