Movie research results: Multitasking overloads the brain
The impact of a short segment of Indiana Jones movie on the diverse areas of the brain. Image: Juha Lahnakoski
Previous research shows that multitasking, which means performing several tasks at the same time, reduces productivity by as much as 40%. Now a group of researchers specialising in brain imaging has found that changing tasks too frequently interferes with brain activity. This may explain why the end result is worse than when a person focuses on one task at a time.
鈥榃e used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure different brain areas of our research subjects while they watched short segments of the Star Wars, Indiana Jones and James Bond movies,鈥 explains Aalto University Associate Professor Iiro J盲盲skel盲inen.
Cutting the films into segments of approximately 50 seconds fragmented their continuity. In the study, the subjects鈥 brain areas functioned more smoothly when they watched the films in segments of 6.5 minutes. The posterior temporal and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, the cerebellum and dorsal precuneus are the most important areas of the brain in terms of combining individual events into coherent event sequences. These areas of the brain make it possible to turn fragments into complete entities. According to the study, these brain regions work more efficiently when it can deal with one task at a time.
Inadequacy and overloading
J盲盲skel盲inen recommends completing one task each day rather than working on a dozen of different tasks simultaneously.
鈥業t鈥檚 easy to fall into the trap of multitasking. In that case, it seems like there is little real progress and this leads to a feeling of inadequacy. Concentration decreases, which causes stress. Prolonged stress hinders thinking and memory,鈥 says J盲盲skel盲inen.
The subjects鈥 brain areas functioned more smoothly when they watched the films in longer segments. Image: Juha Lahnakoski
The neuroscientist also sees social media as a challenge.
鈥楽ocial media is really nothing but multitasking, with several parallel plots and issues. You might end up reading the news or playing a game recommended by a friend. From the brain鈥檚 perspective, social media only increases the load.鈥
In addition to J盲盲skel盲inen, Juha Lahnakoski from Max Planck Institute, Mikko Sams from Aalto University and Lauri Nummenmaa from the University of Turku participated in the research.
More information:
Iiro J盲盲skel盲inen
Aalto University
tel. +358 50 560 9503
iiro.jaaskelainen@aalto.fi
(onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
Video (intended for research group page only):
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