How Multitasking Affects Your Brain: Psychology of Multitasking

Multitasking is doing multiple things at one given time, changing quickly between the two, or doing them in one sequence. Often enough, It can create an illusion of productivity, but sometimes it makes people try to do many things in less time. Common multitasking activities include answering emails during meetings or handling calls at work while doing reports. In reality, most of the time, the negatives of multitasking outnumber productivity, as the brain lacks control over several activities simultaneously. 

Though it may prove useful in the organization of a hectic schedule, studies are found to revealed that multitasking reduces one’s cognitive efficiency. It compromises attention,  comprehension, and task execution. In very simple words, the human brain is designed not to handle multiple streams of information at a time. 

How Does Multitasking Impact the Brain? 

Contrary to popular opinion, multitasking entails doing several things at once. The human brain switches from one activity to another. This process is referred to as task switching. Constant non-stop change is mentally exhausting because it requires sometimes to re-attain when the change occurs. This process not only reduces total productivity but also impairs concentration capabilities. This further degeneration over time can leak out from the multitasking state into the domain of general attention, even when performing a single task. 

Brain-Based Impact 

Multitasking puts upon stress-sensitive areas of the brain that pertain to attention, executive control, and sustained attention. Some of these include:

• The Frontoparietal Control Network: This network helps set goals for tasks and establish what is relevant information. 
• The Dorsal Attention Network: It helps in top-down attentional allocation, focusing on relevant sensory information or internal states to accomplish a goal. 
• The Ventral Attention Network: It supports automatic attention reorientation but is more  easily distracted when performing multitask operations. 

These networks work together to handle single tasks effectively. When multitasking, the competing demands overwhelm the brain’s capacity, leading to interference. This interference disrupts the brain’s ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, further impairing performance.

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The Cognitive Costs of Multitasking 

1. Reduced Attention Span 

In most cases, it feels like the brain is being flooded by so much information, making it hard to pay attention to one activity at a given time. It acts as a dilution effect on focus,  leading to errors, missed details, and lousy execution of tasks. Moreover, such performance degrades memory retention because the brain cannot encode and store broken pieces of information.

Read More: 10 Habits of Highly Focused Individuals, According to Psychology

2. Reduced Productivity 

While multitasking may appear to be a productive means of completing tasks in less time, research has shown that, in comparison to focusing on one activity at a time, it is more time-consuming to accomplish tasks. Mental energy used for constant switching between tasks reduces overall productivity and the probability of errors.

3. Poor Decision-Making 

Multitasking divides the cognitive resources of the brain. It then brings about a hurry to decide on matters without much deliberation. It may be writing an email while attending a meeting or texting while driving. Divided focus for such tasks can lead to serious consequences.

Read More: A Psychology-backed Guide to Decision-Making

Why Is Multitasking So Difficult? 

Human brains evolved with the concept of focusing attention on a single task.  Performances while executing tasks depend on the collaboration of attention and executive control systems. The task to these systems comes in the form of trying to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, where performance is reduced. Humans, however,  overestimate their multitasking capabilities without knowing the numerous hidden costs to their cognition. 

Task Switching: The Science Behind 

Task switching does not look as smooth as it appears. Research has demonstrated that when the brain has to switch between tasks, that are different in complexity or familiarity, it takes more time. In fact, Renata Meuter and Alan Allport’s research proved that participants named digits slower in their native language if the task required switching from the second language. 

This proves that even simple routine activities like speaking one’s native language become much more difficult once the brain is distracted and forced to refocus suddenly. The cognitive cost of this transition time also adds up with frequent multitasking, further reducing productivity. 

The Emotional Price of Multitasking

A cognitive performance loss due to multitasking entails an emotional cost. High task-switching rates can induce high levels of stress and mental exhaustion. The inability to complete tasks within the expected time may also lead to frustration or low self-esteem. Moreover, the changed capacity for emotional empathy may further deteriorate personal as well as professional relationships. 

Countermeasures Against the Multitasking Consequences 

To overcome the adverse effects of multitasking, the following methods have been proposed: 

1. Prioritize tasks: Perform one task at a time, beginning with the most important or urgent one. 
2. Set clear goals: Simplify tasks into smaller, easily manageable action and allocate  time slots for each of them. 
3. Eliminate distractions: Set an environment without distraction by switching off notifications, closing irrelevant tabs, and minimizing interruptions. 
4. Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness can improve concentration and curb the trend towards multitasking. 
5. Take breaks: Often take time off to recharge the mental outlook and ensure one remains mentally clear. 
6. Be a one-gadget person and never use several devices at once. Consider boundaries when using technology. 

Conclusion

Typically, multitasking is considered the way to become more productive. But the  cognitive and psychological effects are much greater than the real perceived benefits of  multitasking. Since the human brain does not really multitask, there is decreased  attention, a reduced ability to make good decisions, and even changes within one’s  structure. By realizing the constraints on multitasking and doing things one at a time,  better productivity, mental health, and cognitive brain performance will be achieved. 

This means embracing a more focused and deliberate approach to task management,  one that both improves personal efficiency and protects the long-term functionality of the  brain.