The Multitasking Effect

Multitasking and Task Switching

• When individuals attempt to perform two or more tasks simultaneously, the typical outcome is a decrease in performance, as they are not able to process multiple tasks concurrently.
• In experiments involving the simultaneous performance of two reaction time tasks, it is often observed that task performance is impaired, and reaction times are longer.
• The phenomenon where individuals believe they are multitasking but are actually rapidly moving between tasks is commonly referred to as "task-switching."
• The switch cost in multitasking scenarios refers to the time and efficiency lost when switching between tasks.

Task Switching and Brain Regions

• The brain regions typically involved in task switching are the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and anterior cingulate cortex.
• The brain regions predominantly activated during switch trials in task switching are the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex.

Attention and Distraction

• Attention can be directed in a top-down manner, which is goal-driven, or in a bottom-up manner, which is stimulus-driven.
• Unintentional attention capture occurs when an individual's attention is drawn to a stimulus without their intention or awareness.
• Visual distraction while driving can lead to a significant decrease in performance, and the consequence is an increased risk of accidents.

Visual Distraction and Driving

• The three primary types of distraction while driving are visual, auditory, and cognitive distraction.
• Visual tunnelling is a phenomenon where an individual's attention is focused on a specific stimulus, and they are unable to process other visual information.
• The visual tunnelling effect is problematic when driving, as it can lead to a decreased ability to detect and respond to hazards on the road.

Attention Training and Video Games

• The study by Sturm et al. (1997) trained participants on attention functions, including attentional control, attentional switching, and attentional monitoring.
• The two attention functions that showed the most improvement as a result of the specific training in the study by Sturm et al. (1997) were attentional control and attentional switching.
• The study by Green & Bavelier (2003) found that gamers had three attention-related advantages compared to non-gamers, including improved attentional control, attentional switching, and attentional monitoring.

Cognitive Improvements and Video Games

• The study by Green & Bavelier (2003) concluded that gamers' attentional abilities were improved due to their experience playing action video games.
• The study found that training non-gamers for 1 hour per day for 10 days with 'Medal of Honour' compared to a control group playing 'Tetris' led to improvements in attentional abilities, particularly in vigilance and peripheral information processing.
• The study suggested that action video games, particularly first-person shooter games, might lead to improved attention and peripheral information processing due to the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the games.

Real-World Benefits and Action Video Games

• The study found that action video game players have improved attentional abilities, which can lead to real-world benefits, such as improved performance in surgery.
• Action video game players perform better in comparison to pilots when it comes to acquiring, identifying, and tracking targets in UAV piloting.
• The information suggests that action video game players have improved driving performance in simulated driving, likely due to their improved attentional abilities.