The communal offices that were introduced during the '50s to boast creativity and problem solving are actually reducing productivity, according to new research.

Neuroscientist Dr. Jack Lewis conducted brain scans on office workers and found that those who work in spaces with few walls are plagued by intense bursts of distraction.

"Open plan offices were designed with the idea that people can move around and interact freely to promote creative thinking and better problem solving," Lewis explained.

He added, "But it doesn't work like that. If you are just getting into some work and a phone goes off in the background it ruins what you are concentrating on. Even though you are not aware at the time, the brain responds to distractions."

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