An article in Wired Science discusses a study which identified a connection between multi-tasking behavior (simultaneously watching TV, reading e-mail, browsing the web and talking on the phone) and an inability to concentrate. When self-identified multi-taskers were tested on a series of tasks, they performed worse than those who multi-tasked least. The tests measured the ability to ignore irrelevant information; to organize things in working memory; and, surprisingly, to switch quickly and readily from one task to another. Hm, that last one's a bit of a puzzle. Hat tip to Law Librarian Blog.
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