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Even though the study did not revolve around interruptions from cellphones or other gadgets, one researcher said the results provide a “clear extrapolation” to the impact of a stream of incoming rings and buzzes. “Technology provides so much more of an interference than what we did here,” said the researcher, Dr. Adam Gazzaley, a neurologist at the University of California at San Francisco. Indeed, the paper argues that studies like this are becoming increasingly important as aging adults spend more time in a work force with heavy multitasking demands.

the research shows instead is a “diminished ability” to reactivate the networks involved in the initial task.

A growing body of research shows that juggling many tasks, as so many people do in this technological era, can divide attention and hurt learning and performance. Does it also hinder short-term memory?

Chunking describes how human memory utilization works. It is important to remember this concept as we look at doing several tasks "simultaneously." We are in fact switching between them rather than doing them at the same time.

Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day. Then people started realizing that when they had a phone in their ear and were making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) suffered. Rather than multitasking, try a new strategy known as “chunking.”

Don't waste so much of your time trying to multi-task. Instead, make yourself more efficient and more productive by chunking. Set aside chunks of time for specific tasks Reduce the time spent in start-up moments Don't allow interruptions Increase the number and size of chunks during your day and week Recognize that there will still be interruptions no matter how well you chunk.

We find that students engage in substantial multitasking behavior with their laptops and have non course-related software applications open and active about 42% of the time.

Although many students may believe they can switch back and forth between different tasks with no serious consequences to their academic performance, multitasking has been shown to dramaticaUy increase the number of memory errors and the processing time required to "learn" topics that involve a significant cognitive load

Although many students may believe they can switch back and forth between different tasks with no serious consequences to their academic performance,