Science reveals people are capable of multitasking– it just requires practice
Takeaways:
For too long, the prefrontal cortex was thought to be a single-tasking bottleneck. This is the region of the brain that handles problem-solving, planning and abstract thought. Researchers previously assumed multitasking just meant rapidly switching back and forth between tasks.
However, a new Georgetown study found the brain has a workaround. Published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, the study shows the brain can rewire itself with enough repetition, effectively moving a learned task off of the prefrontal cortex entirely so it can be handled elsewhere.
The experiment tracked 11 participants sorting car images, doing so more than 30,000 times in total. Over five to 10 weeks, brain imaging showed that the task shifted from the prefrontal cortex to the temporal cortex, the region tied to long-term memory. The brain had automated the task.
This explains everyday “muscle memory” skills. It’s why experienced drivers can hold a conversation while driving, why radiologists can read a scan at a glance, and why gymnasts can stick a routine that once required total concentration. The brain has offloaded the skill to run subconsciously.
This is accessible to anyone, but it takes consistent practice. Experts note that there is no shortcut. Patience and repeated exposure are what let the brain build the new neural pathways. You also have to give yourself some grace as this process goes on. Frustration with yourself while learning actually adds a mental burden and slows the process down.
We have been told that practice makes perfect– but now we know that consistent practice of a skill or mental process can effectively relieve your brain of the mental burden it requires. This is how we can become effective multitaskers.
By David Cox for NBC News
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