TEDxSanJoseCA - Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD - Brain: Memory and Multitasking

Summary

This video explores the impact of technology on our brains, focusing on multitasking and its effect on cognitive performance. The speaker discusses how constant distractions from technology can reduce our attention span and ability to focus. However, the brain’s plasticity offers hope, as it can adapt and improve with practice. Through research, including video games designed to enhance focus and brain activity monitoring, the speaker highlights strategies for improving cognitive abilities, either by changing our behavior or by training our brains to better manage distractions and multitasking.

Takeaways

• 😀 Multitasking can negatively impact attention and cognitive performance, making it harder to focus on important tasks.
• 😀 The constant use of technology, such as smartphones and email, distracts us and leads to diminished task efficiency.
• 😀 Some people thrive in noisy environments, such as coffee shops, where distractions may actually boost their focus.
• 😀 Behavioral change can be a solution to overcoming the effects of multitasking, where people make conscious decisions to focus on one task at a time.
• 😀 A balance between focus and multitasking is possible by applying single-task attention to high-stakes work and multitasking for mundane tasks.
• 😀 The brain exhibits remarkable plasticity, meaning it can adapt and change even in adulthood, helping individuals improve their cognitive abilities.
• 😀 Video games designed to simulate multitasking and distractions can help train and strengthen cognitive abilities, offering a fun way to improve focus.
• 😀 Real-time monitoring of brain activity while individuals play games allows researchers to observe how the brain adapts to challenges.
• 😀 Technology, like wireless EEG headsets, allows for remote brain activity tracking, enabling researchers to study brain changes in real-life environments.
• 😀 Cognitive improvements from practicing tasks in distracting environments show that both behavioral decisions and brain training can help us cope with multitasking demands.
• 😀 The research is focused on understanding how technology affects behavior and exploring ways to leverage our brain's adaptability to improve focus and cognitive performance.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's research?

The speaker's research focuses on understanding how technology, particularly multitasking and constant distractions, affects human behavior and cognitive performance. They are investigating ways to adapt to these challenges and improve our ability to focus and process information.

Why do people often choose noisy environments, like coffee shops, for work or reading?

People may choose noisy environments like coffee shops because they feel that the background noise helps them focus, blocks out other distractions, or creates a more stimulating atmosphere for creativity. However, research suggests that this may not be ideal for tasks that require deep concentration.

What are the two main approaches suggested to cope with the effects of multitasking?

The two approaches to cope with multitasking are: changing our behavior by making conscious decisions to limit distractions (e.g., turning off phones or emails), or changing our brains through practice and training to adapt to multitasking in a more effective way.

How does the speaker personally manage distractions while working on important tasks?

The speaker manages distractions by focusing on one task at a time. They turn off their email, put away their phone, and close their door to eliminate distractions. This approach helps them maintain concentration and improve the quality of their work.

What role does brain plasticity play in dealing with multitasking and distractions?

Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to adapt and change in response to new experiences and stimuli. The speaker suggests that through practice, we can train our brains to improve cognitive performance, even in the face of distractions, by using exercises and games designed to strengthen focus and attention.

What is the purpose of the video game developed by the speaker's lab?

The video game developed by the speaker's lab is designed to help participants improve their ability to manage distractions and multitask. Players interact with a driving game where they must respond to relevant and irrelevant signs, challenging their focus and decision-making while recording brain activity to monitor changes in cognitive performance.

How does the speaker's lab collect data on brain activity during the video game?

The lab collects data on brain activity through brain imaging techniques, such as EEG and fMRI. Participants play the game while their brain activity is recorded, either in the lab or at home with wireless EEG headsets, allowing researchers to track changes in cognitive performance over time.

How is the speaker's lab moving beyond traditional lab settings in their research?

The speaker's lab is moving beyond traditional lab settings by using wireless EEG headsets that allow participants to play the video game at home while still recording brain data. This approach provides more flexibility in collecting real-world data and allows researchers to study brain changes in natural settings.

What is the significance of using fMRI in the research conducted by the speaker's lab?

fMRI is used to study changes in brain networks and how they relate to improved cognitive performance. After participants play the video game and show improvements, fMRI scans are used to observe the structural and functional changes in the brain that correlate with their enhanced ability to handle distractions.

What message does the speaker convey regarding the use of technology?

The speaker conveys that technology itself is not inherently bad, but that we need to make conscious decisions about how we interact with it. They emphasize the importance of balancing the use of technology with mindful behavior, suggesting that we should not let it dictate our every action but instead choose how to engage with it based on our needs.