SPEED and accuracy suffer most when people try to do too many things at once,
like driving while talking on a mobile phone.
Performing many tasks at the same time takes a toll on the brain鈥檚 ability to
allocate resources, says David Meyers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
(Journal of Experimental Psychology, vol 27, p 763).
Meyers measured the amount of time lost when people were asked to switch
between tasks, such as solving maths problems. He found it took longer to
multitask when the chores became increasingly complex and unfamiliar.
Multitasking can overwhelm the brain鈥檚 鈥渙perating system鈥�, says Meyers.
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