OUTLINE
Noah Dalton
SNHU
ENG-122
06.12.2022
Outline
Multitasking is a term that is majorly used in the computer lingua, which means performing two activities simultaneously. Similarly, multitasking in a human context entail performing two activities simultaneously (Worringer et al., 2019). For instance, studying while listening to music is a common trend among students, normally considered multitasking.
Thesis
Multitasking in human beings is a hoax as the brain of a human is not designed to focus on two activities simultaneously. However, rather it processes activities and information by switching from one activity to another, which significantly reduces the concentration resulting in undesirable outcomes for those who choose to multi-task rather than focus their attention on one project at a time.
Body 1- Supporting idea
The human being was made to perform focused actions and cannot, for physiological and neurological reasons, perform activities simultaneously, but rather, in allusion to what processors do, small parts of one task at a time – but never more than one at a time (Aagaard, 2019). This leads to great frustration because either people perform a task with excellence and total concentration to the detriment of the others; or perform – which is the most common to happen – everything in a mediocre way.
Body 2- supporting ideas
The human brain, as stated earlier, switches from one activity to another. Alternating between ‘simultaneous’ intellectual activities, neuroscientist impairs the ability to concentrate and understand. All tasks that require the creation of a mental universe, abstraction, and creativity require total concentration (Koch et al., 2018). This process requires prolonged mental activity. Every time a person gets distracted, they must start over from scratch to recreate that same mental image.
Body 3- the supporting idea
It is impossible to focus on more than one activity as focusing on one activity involves a series of reactions. Dopamine is one of the main neurotransmitters involved in the attention process. This can then generate a chaotic scene in the brain, in which case specific treatments are needed (Koch et al., 2018). Stress also exerts a harmful influence, unbalancing the hormonal discharge of dopamine. As a result, one activity is bound to fail. In the case of texting and driving, the driver is more likely to cause a road accident.
Conclusion
There is nothing like multitasking among human beings, and this is because the brain operates by focusing on one activity at a time. Multitasking reduces the concentration of the activities being done, which can result in performance and accidents in the case of operating machines or other dangerous equipment. Yet this danger almost goes on without concern in all fields of work as if we’ve become so reliant on multi-tasking that we don’t even bother to question the positive & negatives to multitasking, we just do it without thinking & this is ultimately not a good thing even if you don’t believe multitasking is inertly bad it can be a distractions & can become a dangerous distraction as the evidence shows.
References:
Aagaard, J. (2019). Multitasking as distraction: A conceptual analysis of media multitasking research. Theory & Psychology, 29(1), 87-99.
Koch, I., Poljac, E., Müller, H., & Kiesel, A. (2018). Cognitive structure, flexibility, and plasticity in human multitasking—An integrative review of dual-task and task-switching research. Psychological Bulletin, 144(6), 557.
Worringer, B., Langner, R., Koch, I., Eickhoff, S. B., Eickhoff, C. R., & Binkofski, F. C. (2019). Common and distinct neural correlates of dual-tasking and task-switching: a meta-analytic review and a neuro-cognitive processing model of human multitasking. Brain Structure and Function, 224(5), 1845-1869.