The Multitasking Fallacy
The Multitasking Fallacy There should be a warning label every time someone attempts to multitask, especially if you belong to the species that has a Y chromosome. Why is multitasking a fallacy? Simply, our brain is unable to focus on more than one thing at a time, this is especially true when the task requires cognitive effort. The prefrontal cortex only handles one complex process at a time. What may feel like multitasking is our brain task switching , not multitasking. The Hidden Cost of Multitasking There is a " switch cost " that is paid when you switch focus. When you change focus your brain has to ‘reboot’ to grab all the necessary information relating to a task. The brain has to re-load context, priorities and outcomes. Research shows that this can lead to significant decreases in efficiency because of this "switch cost". Why the Warning Label? Why do I believe there should be a warning label for "multitasking"? Attention Re...
