You have come across an infographic on the impact of multitasking. You decide to write a blog entry about it. For this task write only the introduction using approximately 100 words.
The Impact of Multitasking
1. Multitasking in Modern Life
Technology enables multitasking.
Smartphones fill every spare moment.
2. Neuroscientific Concerns
Reduces efficiency, increases stress hormones.
Notifications hijack focus.
3. Changing Communication Norms
Smartphones demand constant availability.
Unread messages lower cognitive performance.
4. Learning Impacts
Distractions misplace information in memory.
Harder to retrieve knowledge.
5. Decision Fatigue
Small choices drain mental resources.
Weakened impulse control affects decisions.
6. Information Overload
Mixed messages compel constant checking.
Overwhelmed by irrelevant and critical inputs.
Takeaways
Multitasking harms focus, learning, and decisions.
Reducing distractions is essential.
Sample answer
Technology and the Brain
In this era, when technology is developing at a (1)______________ (BREATHE) rate, we are constantly required to do several things at once. Besides, our smartphones have facilitated a 21st-century mania for cramming a lot into every spare moment of (2)_______________ (TIME); a habit we call multitasking.
Neuroscientists are (3)_____________ (INCREASE) voicing concern, however, that this practice actually makes us (4)_______________ (DEMONSTRATE) less efficient. Although people think they are expert (5)______________ (JUGGLE), they're actually just switching from one task to another very (6)______________ (RAPID). This has been found to increase the production of both adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol, which can (7)______________ (STIMULATION) your brain and cause (8)_________________ (CONFUSE), (9)_________________ (FORGET), and a lack of focus.
To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex- an area which plays a significant part in directing focus and (10)_______________ (PURSUIT) goals- is also attracted to novelty. This means that its attention can easily be hijacked by the constant influx of notifications that flood our daily lives- most of which demand some sort of action.
This wasn't the case in the old days. When all phones were wired to a wall, there was no expectation of being able to reach people at all times and get an immediate response. But with smartphones, it is taken for granted that people can be contacted by text, instant messaging or email (11)_______________ (REGARD) of whether they're in a meeting or (12)_________________ (DESPERATION) trying to meet the (13)_____________ (LINE) for a project.
Certainly you can choose to ignore these attempts to get your attention. However, findings from a recent study have shown that simply having the opportunity to multitask is (14)______________ (DETRIMENT) to cognitive performance.
Indeed, it turns out that the knowledge of an (15)______________ (READING) email sitting in your inbox while you're trying to concentrate on a task can reduce your effective IQ by 10 points. In other words, the sense of a (16)________________ (LOG) building up contributes to a state of information (17)__________________ (LOAD).
Yet another problem with multitasking is its impact on acquiring new knowledge. If students, for example, study and watch TV (18)_________________ (SIMULTANEITY), the information from their (19)__________________ (SCHOOL) goes into the region of the brain specialised in storing new procedures and skills, not facts and ideas. Without distraction, it heads to the hippocampus, where it is organised in a way that makes (20)_________________ (RETRIEVE) easier.
And this isn't the end of the negative impact that multitasking can have on your brain. It also requires you to make (21)_________________ (END) series of choices: Do I answer this text message or ignore it? How do I file this email? Do I continue what I'm working on now or take a break?
While this may appear trivial, it turns out that they are just as demanding on our neural resources as bigger ones, And one of the first things we lose when our brains lack energy is impulse control; something essential when it comes to making (22)_______________ (INFORMATION) and logical decisions. This (23)_________________(INEVITABLE) leads to poorer (24)______________ (COME) when we must determine the right course of action for something that has real importance.
Part of the problem is that nowadays the medium for any kind of interaction is the same. Until recently, each of the many different modes of communication we used signalled its (25)_________________ (RELEVANT), importance and intent. Now emails and texts are used for all life's messages. We (26)_________________ (COMPULSIVE) check them in part because we don't know whether the next one will be for leisure or (27)______________ (AMUSING), an (28)__________________ (DUE) bill, a 'to do', a query... something you can do now, later, or something life-changing, something (29)_________________ (RELEVANCE). No wonder we are suffering from information overload!
KEY
1. breathtaking
2. downtime
downtime: the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax.
E.g.
Everyone needs a little downtime.
3. increasingly
4. demonstrably
demonstrably: in a way that can be shown or proved.
E.g.
demonstrably unfair
5. jugglers
6. rapidly
7. overstimulate
8. confusion
9. forgetfulness
10. pursuing
11. regardless
12. desperately
13. deadline
14. detrimental
15. unread
16. backlog
backlog: a quantity of work that should have been done already, but has not yet been done
E.g.
When she eventually returned to work, there was a tremendous backlog of paperwork to catch up on. We are faced with a backlog of orders we can’t deal with.
17. overload
18. simultaneously
19. schoolwork
20. retrieval
21. endless
22. informed
23. inevitably
24. outcomes
25. relevance
26. compulsively
27. amusement
28. overdue
overdue: not paid, done, returned, etc. by the required or expected time
E.g.
an overdue payment/library book
The rent is now overdue.
Her baby is two weeks overdue.
This car is overdue for a service
29. irrelevant
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