Wellnews by Scott LaFee

By now, everyone knows (and if you don't, you haven't been paying attention) that talking on a cell phone while driving impairs one's ability to do the latter well. As it turns out, the reverse is also true: Driving reduces one's ability to comprehend and use language.

According to researchers at the University of Illinois, it seemed nonsensical that talking affected driving, but not the other way around.

"Speech production and speech comprehension are attention-demanding activities, and so they ought to compete with other tasks that require your attention — like driving," said Gary Dell, a psycholinguist and co-author of the study.

Dell and colleagues studied pairs of volunteers using a driving simulator: one driving, the other acting as a conversation partner, either in the simulator or remotely via a hands-free cell phone. While experiencing a variety of traffic scenarios, including simply being parked, drivers were told a story they had never heard before and then asked to recall as much as they could.

As the researchers expected, their ability to remember and retell the story declined significantly if the participants had been actively driving during the telling. On average, they remembered 20 percent less of the story than when they heard it while sitting still. Older participants performed worse than younger ones.

"This study shows that various aspects of language go to hell when you're driving," said psychology professor Art Kramer, who collaborated on the research.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day and may walk up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime. That's equivalent to five times around the equator.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Apotemnophobia — fear of people with amputations

GET ME THAT.

STAT!

If you're hospital-bound, insist upon a private room by all means if you have the means.

An English study found that the chances of acquiring a serious infection increase by 10 percent if you share a hospital room with other patients.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

Regardless of age, marital status, income level or occupation, people are simply, empirically happier on weekends.

A University of Rochester study reports that individual well-being, both physical and mental, generally improves when people think they have a few days' off from the ordinary grind. The so-called "weekend effect," psychologists say, is associated with the freedom to choose activities and spend time with family and friends.

"Workers, even those with interesting, high-status jobs, really are happier on the weekend," psychologist and study author Richard Ryan said. "Our findings highlight just how important free time is to an individual's well-being."

MEDTRONICA

Office of Minority Health

minorityhealth.hhs.gov

Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Minority Health focuses on how large issues like the flu pandemic, AIDS or cancer impact minority populations. There are sections on statistics and demographic data, how to overcome cultural difficulties and specific health topics.

CURTAIN CALLS

The number of deaths from trichobezoar, a behavior that involves consuming non-food items, such as dirt, forks and burned matches, is estimated to be roughly 2,700 annually.

In February 2004, a Frenchman made headlines when it was discovered at his death that he had eaten and retained 350 coins worth roughly $650, plus assorted necklaces and needles. During the last decade of his life, the man's family had tried to hide coins and jewelry from him, hoping his consuming desire (if not the coins) would pass.

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