Why the Human Brain Can't Multitask

Complete video at: fora.tv/confere...
Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, explains why the human brain struggles to process information that is presented "with the intensity and the quantity and the speed we find ourselves surrounded by today." Revising the 1956 psychology paper, "The Magical Number Seven," Carr explains that our working memory - everything comprising the consciousness at a given moment - can only hold between two and four items at a time.
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The Ideas Economy: Information is a fresh look at knowledge management for the information age. The Economist will bring together theorists, strategists, and innovators who understand how to harness data to create value and advance individual, corporate, and social good. To view the full version of any video featured in this playlist, visit: fora.tv/confere...
A former executive editor of the Harvard Business Review, Nicholas Carr writes and speaks on technology, business, and culture. A prolific and nimble thought leader, Mr Carr has written more than a dozen articles and interviews for Harvard Business Review and writes regularly for the Financial Times, Strategy and Business, and The Guardian. Nick's newest book, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, examines the intellectual and social consequences of the Internet. It has received unprecedented international acclaim and has been reviewed in all major news publications.
Mr Carr has served as a commentator on CNBC, CNN, and other networks and has been a featured speaker worldwide at industry, educational, and government forums. In Spring 2008 CIO Insight named Carr's Does IT Matter?, one of the all-time "Top 15 Most Groundbreaking Management Books" and Ziff Davis included him as one of only a handful of IT management thought leaders on their "100 Most Influential People in IT" list.

[@mudslinger888]

Those of us with TBIs know how much multitasking hurts our brains.. it is splitting itself too much, no fun. I find joy now in keeping one thought at a time as much as possible, in fact that is a goal of meditation I used to teach, and it is not so easy as it sounds.. but when you can actually limit your thoughts to a single thought, it is pure joy indeed. There is no fear anymore so maybe anxiety, panic attacks, fear etc are actually from trying to hold multiple thoughts which overwhelm the nervous system.. that is how it feels anyway.

[@kaid567]

I think the last sentence is really true. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

[@Yatukih_001]

People are not multitaskers.

[@lesleyseville8425]

Every boss want you to multi - task but only pay you to do one job.

[@requiemforamerica8432]

i can only multitask when only one of the tasks require significant amount of concentration and the other is merely mechanical - like listening to a youtube lecture while doing the dishes

[@betterfly7398]

Your brain isn't "processing" what you do with the dishes. Instead your body is on "auto pilot" when doing the dishes.

[@commanderthorkilj.amundsen3426]

@@betterfly7398Or possibly, the washing of the dishes is the thing, producing theta waves, trancelike state, and listening to the podcast is filtered out. So many Ted Talks are like belly button lint. GFN.

[@omegavalerius]

I noticed I can't read a piece and listen to another piece of complex information at the same time. However I can listen to a piece of complex information very closely while playing a game involving decisions and information. Anyone else who has noticed this of themselves?

[@maxcorrice9499]

Some can multi task but it's possible as I am listening to the video and typing this and not switching back and forth

[@Inexorable9295]

+max corrice No. You're just switching fast without noticing, everyone can do that, you're not a super human, it seems to you that you're multi tasking, but your brain is certainely not, it's proven.

[@maxcorrice9499]

+Inexorable l it's also proven that unfinished tasks still have thought processes going on in the background and that is actually multitasking

[@Inexorable9295]

max corrice in the background yes, that is not consciously multitasking.

[@maxcorrice9499]

WacksonJatts life’s shit but has been for years

[@sevenwonders3615]

@@maxcorrice9499 Dang you really replied after 4 years that's amazing

[@gsherlock]

Its not necessarily a question of not being able to perform multiple tasks, its a question of how well you perform those tasks. I wouldn't want a brain surgeon to operate on me whilst watching a film, would you?

[@poeticnation6251]

Nice, nice, nice! This was a great explanation of why multitasking is simply not possible.

[@theshermantanker7043]

Multitasking is real. Everyone is VERY bad at Multitasking, but everyone CAN at least multitask at a very basic level

[@khalidatel]

@@theshermantanker7043 when u multitask u take more time then needed for both tasks and u make more mistakes

[@1treps197]

@@theshermantanker7043 you are switching between to tasks and thinking that you are multitasking. the very basic level you mean is when i am typing and thinking the words i am typing does that mean i am multitasking because i am typing and thinking at the same time, no this is my sub consious mind knowing where the letters are and typing it, i dont think about typing and thinking what words or where letters are i am going to type, or when you are walking and talking to someone. does that mean i am multitasking no it is my subconsous mind moving my legs and keeping me in balance so i wont fall. this is basic level multitasking you mean.

[@franklance9167]

I think that multi focus isn't possible with two separate activities from a first person point of view but if you perceive the events in a 3rd person view you can focus on mor things.

[@zhang4927]

Yes, when I playing gta I'm able to shoot the cop behind me while driving perfectly

[@p0k3mn1]

How am I able to watch 2 videos while listening to music while playing a game and being in a voice call still know what’s going on in all of them at the same time?

[@THESocialJusticeWarrior]

@FlavioAngPanday, no, driving is just muscle-motor memory, until you need to make a driving decision.

[@vistigioful]

It makes sense that the human brain cannot multitask. You are dividing your attention among multiple things.

[@TargetOrientedGolf]

Human multitasking IS possible but involves the conscious and non-conscious minds, just like a computer with 2 CPU's. We switch ATTENTION between tasks, usually so fast that for most people they think they are multitasking. Whilst, as eluded to in the video, we can only consciously attend to 1 task at a time (the 8 bit CPU), we can carry out other PHYSICAL tasks simultaneously because they are managed by your non-conscious mind (the 64 bit CPU) and your learned motor programs. This is why we develop motor patterns so the non-conscious mind can perform physical tasks whilst the conscious mind is engaged with something requiring it's attention. You appear to be multitasking but actually using different brain functions. Hence our ability to multitask.

[@futavadumnezo]

Yes that's what should be called human multi-tasking capabilities.

[@1treps197]

you cant compare us to a machine we are not machines. a human brain cant multitask, it will make errors for example, when you are on a phone call with someone and you are writing something. when you type you are not listening to the other person, the phone call becomes like background noise, but if you listen to the phone call and continue typing, you are going to type some of the words they are saying because you are listening to them like shifting your focus to them. this way you are more sasistable to errors and mistakes in doing so your productivity and effeictiveness will decrease dratiscally.

[@Chelaxim]

@@1treps197 Just say you're stupid and go. I did musical theater and if singing, dancing and acting isn't multi tasking...what is? Also people who can sing and play instruments? People on Twitch who can play video games competitively while interacting with chat.

[@rc7625]

​@@ChelaximWTF are you being so rude for? Sit down and grow up.

[@skullectrobeats7436]

Scientist: the human brain can’t multi task All moms: I’m about to wreck this man’s whole career

[@classicwiseguy]

aka for all those people who don't believe in ADD/ADHD and wonder why the scientific community has been talking about it and diagnosing it fairly recently, this guy just explained it pretty well

[@Mohamed-Maghrebi]

wondering how to play piano by two hands, each hand what to focus on, take me to this video, and still not got the answer, do I really can use each hand for a specific thing or not in piano?

[@MattyMilligan]

My brain may not be able to multitask, but I am still going to try in order to get more work done.

[@follyfolly5445]

Try Playing the piano with both hands.

[@bernd_the_almighty]

the guy on this video is 1) remembering what he wanted to say 2) ordering his vocal cords to produce sound 3) walking along the scene 4) not to count a lot of stuff the brain does like regulating breathing, digest system, blood pressure etc. -- everything at the same time... isn't it multitasking?

[@mariahsilv]

talking and walking and breathing aren't working memory, he's talking about cognitive use of the brain

[@orthodium]

The interesting question is what is the mechanism of transitioning of information from a short term into a long term state. Since obviously, not all information we perceive is memorable even if we want to make sure we remember all of it, yet some information which we are not particularly interested gets memorized instantly without us even trying.

[@shuaisoserious]

sleep

[@Stoic-]

one multitasking can be done by every human. watching KZbin while eating food😂😂😂

[@pushgend1641]

No. He is talking about taking up various activities such as two different hobbies

[@eudaemonnn]

Explained my problem, thank you

[@TimmacTR]

@Valoric0 actually I meant it the way you are explaining. when you do several things at the same time your actions becomes laggy. but actually when you do tasks that you are used to doing you can kind of do them without thinking and ''get less RAM on it''..

[@bernd_the_almighty]

Our brain is architectured so that it is already solving all tasks in parallel. It's just all parallel subtasks/steps are hidden inside the "black box" and all we see is around 5-7 parallel "meta-tasks" Brain can multitask, and it is

[@TehHeavy]

@dk4everX draw a perfect cube and a perfect circle[1 with each hand] at the same time and see if u can multitask in less then 2 sec

[@michaeledlin9995]

I can ha ha

[@TehHeavy]

@@michaeledlin9995 u replied to an 8 year old comment ,nice

[@michaeledlin9995]

@@TehHeavy1st time I read it. Been busy.

[@chPPou]

@alexgrinkov he is actually only focusing on talking, maybe his movment, and - regulating breathing, digest system, blood pressure etc. he is doing that unconsciously = no memory required for that

[@leerees]

@Saerain Depends what system in the brain it relates too. Justin Beiber is a peice of information just as the letter B is or an image of a car. All 3 instances would be created by different networks within your brain. The trick with the limit is to cluster together groups of information inside one peice. Lets say you store the number 42 inside an image of a hammer and the number 20 inside a car, in future you only have to remember hammer car to get 4220, it works really well.

[@leerees]

I think this guy is talking about taking in a peice of information and storing it / acting upon it rather than doing the washing or ironing. I develop financial trading strategies and am well aware of the human brains limit of 5 peices of information. Some of my strategies have over 60 operators so that's an a hour sitting writing the strategy down in 5 part segments so my brain doesn't crap out. It took me years of practise to get to 5. I suck at parralel processing, my PC does it in an instant

[@SuperBustyEva]

the bad thing is your brain leads you to believe you are multitasking, but in reality you are not.

[@powderedtoastman9759]

A lot of evidence supports the truth that multi-tasking is highly inefficient and ineffective.

[@obkanezg2117]

What he’s saying applies now more than ever

[@MahendraSingh-te3fm]

Where can I get the complete talk show of this?

[@4ta2r]

have you tried jailbreaking it?

[@YamaDWD]

so why do we still need to learn?

[@BigMTBrain]

@mistermassive1 - Whoa! Great to know! Thanks! I'm stocking up on flashlights, batteries and demon bags now!

[@YY4Me133]

@Antoshik81 A small number of people, including actor Marilu Henner, seem to be able to recall every detail of their lives. Google "superior autobiographical memory," and/or "hyperthymesia." I don't know if the difference between people like them and the rest of us is in the ability to store information or in the ability to retrieve it, but it's fascinating stuff.

[@reds9921]

Sadly, multitasking is commonly practiced by companies, sometimes a requirement.

[@BigMTBrain]

@xm377Moyocoyatzin - Yes. I agree with all of your statements. I think the situation has been improving though because it seems to be less these days that I suddenly reach a point in an article where my bias sensor trips an internal alarm. In that sense, it can become a problem for those who can't easily detect opinion and bias from fact or, at least, balanced reporting.

[@saerain]

What is a ‘piece of information’ in this context?

[@FlavioAngPanday]

@ndyt okay i see now, sorry i forgot about that muscle-motor memory. its a different type of multi tasking that are shown in this video. maybe bec people used to imply or call such mind-motor activity while doing another activity, a multi task.

[@Yatukih_001]

In Iceland, belief in multitasking resulted in multiple houses being burnt down to the ground. These incidents caused humanity as a whole to tethink claims that people can multitask. The idea was, if animals cannot do it, people can. Some of those who are victims of such a fixed mindset were able to buy new houses. Others have lost their homes. Nowadays yor are a weirdo if you think you have discovered a multitasker. They do not exist because there is no need for multitasking. The idea of multitasking is non sense.

[@michaeledlin9995]

Just someone telling you can't do something. Don't listen and believe all is possible. When you believe what they say you have lost. Impossible to me means I'm possible

[@alexanestealyourman594]

I can multitask I'm commenting and watching this video at the same time

[@wenwen1111]

only because your language and typing skills are well built into your implicit memory so it's not like you're trying to learn completely new multiple things at the same time. It's all about overloading working memory.

[@teknown]

@teknown Brain is smart, it tries to fool you. Try use it without using works, using a complicated language while you think about something also breaks your capacity of multitasking. Try think simple, use keywords and not think the answer in words. Yeah, working memory is small, but if you manage to use it in this way you will get good benefits from it. I don't say you need to control your brain, I say that you need to fool it. Long duration memory is huge, why not stock here all the complex?

[@HCsonicknx]

He just might as well be screaming "stop learning things, be dumb" because that's the message that i see he's trying to convey

[@CourtneyCoulson]

Huh, what? I couldn't follow this video, I was distracted by reading a blog, checking emails and texting at the same time.

[@sicktoaster]

Define the parameters of "task". Is typing a certain letter on a keyboard a task? Should I stop and make sure that I am specifically focused only on the task of typing that particular letter before I type it? Another article suggested that multitasking is a big part of human cognition. My conjecture is that you two are using the word "task" in different ways.

[@casiandsouza7031]

I'd like to see some definitions for the words used. Just state the facts. Don't prop it with some specialist of unknown expertise.

[@Tribefull]

Hardcore MMO raiding boosted the efficiency of my brain's RAM.

[@saintpine]

@ThermalHD "It's bull that brains cant multitask. I have done it many times. Its a lie, you just need practice." We do many operations in multitasking, but most is subconscious triggering of predefined routines, that have been grinded into us by practice. It’s not multitasking elaboration, you cannot use a calculator with one hand, while singing a song and cleaning your screen with the other, but you can use 2 hands and a foot to play on a piano a serious of subconscious routines.

[@orthodium]

@Valoric0 That would be quite something indeed, but wouldn't we become a Data garbage collectors if our memory was so absolutely acute to the details? Besides, there would be no way to erase the memory at will, only through a complete lack of relevance. So Not Memorizing everything is actually protecting our minds in it's own peculiar way.

[@ThomasHaffey]

Can anybody tell me what company might have sponsored this? I can't tell from the video...... /sarcasm

[@NeuroScientician]

I can do multi task. I can run about 8 nodes... things aren't impossible just because You cannot do them.

[@harmishsoni3116]

So you mean LEANARDO DA VINCI was 👽

[@RCbasher07]

and the solution is...?

[@TimmacTR]

..that happens to me when I play battlefield, watch a ted talk and talk with my girlfriend on the phone at the same time.. :)

[@teknown]

This has something to with age? I mean, children can multitask? I think that multitasking is influenced by people around you. If you don't have something precise to think about you will do multitasking. When you are younger you get other kind of results. What I want to say is that if you manage to not focus on something that has a clear result thinking you got the answer you will do multitasking. Paying attention and not trying to get an answer or result to a thing out of many is multitasking.

[@cthedosboss5113]

also computers can not multitask it switches between programs many times a second (GHZ)

[@betterfly7398]

Not really. One core cannot multi task. however, many CPUs have more than a single core. meaning they can Multi-task.

[@theSpicyHam]

Luckily, I am able to keep up with the world, Keep me in advantage, clusters of information!

[@allanrael]

is singing while playing guitar a multitasking?

[@betterfly7398]

Nope my friend. That is considered doing one thing. Try to move your hands in an unpredictable way. when there us definitely no rhythm that links them. You can't. and every time the result will be thinking about where to move one of the hands(so it is unpredictable) while the other is on auto-pilot.

[@jackwater9703]

why can i watch tv have someone talk to me and i can talk over him while hes talking

[@GleibsonNogueira]

This is your brain switching attention very quickly

[@Samtesdua]

For example at the same time you drive your car and listen to radio

[@jemdavis6051]

Try writing 2 different words at the same time to find the answer for yourself.

[@BigMTBrain]

@BladesOfMunch - RE Wikipedia: (Being completely sincere...) On numerous occasions, I've actually challenged and corrected lecturing *experts* in several fields from information that I've gleaned from Wikipedia. I disagree with your dismissal of Wikipedia as a "fancy forum"; you're simply regurgitating an old mantra. The continuous vetting of Wikipedia articles continues to improve. Why do people cite Wikipedia so much? Because MOST PAGES CITE MANY EXPERT SOURCES. Perfect? No. Useful? GREATLY!

[@Trillasecond]

This guy should open a dictionary and look up the word 'task' because he just went on a rant about "focus" which, by definition, isn't the same.

[@amoralis123]

Actually, human brains, as opposed to computers, do Multitask. Typing is multitasking issuing signals almost simultaneously using Cerebrum & Cerebellum at the same time. Human Brains are quite versatile. Both sides share, process & issue signals to Cerebellum for almost instant action. ONT are a marvel of multiprocessing & multitasking, jumpover & you have eyes & touch. Yes, Human Brains only lose to computer on serial processing. Intuition is still very little understood. Let us hope for the .

[@shruthisjarali]

Yes i cant solve my Sudoku while listening to this..i made a mistake in one box ...😬

[@leerees]

@infinitelimitation lol brains do not have algorithms or algorithmic processes.

[@theshermantanker7043]

Lol Multitasking is real. There is a difference between "Everyone is really bad at multitasking" and "Everyone cannot multitask at all"

[@futavadumnezo]

Your brain literally can't multi-task, what it does it switches between focus quickly, how quickly can switch back and forth is what you'd call how good or bad you are at "multi-tasking". Humans are way more efficient when they focus on one task at a time.

[@TheBerkeleyBear]

I watched this video while playing Minecraft, listening to radio, while working out. I don't really know what this talk said, but I think it's stupid.

[@txdmsk]

@Tribefull Hello Kitty Island is sirius biznis.

[@LoluEternalCouple]

Trying to do all task in one day to be a all rounder is time wasting

[@HardCoreProgrammer1]

Your RAM overheats

[@ENr369]

@volound huh, i noiced that too........

[@ZiplineShazam]

If you want TRUE FREEDOM taught in your educational system, then read SUMMERHILL by A.S. Neil

[@amoralis123]

There is no such thing as Multitasking. It only appears that way. There is only one Time Dimension. Quantum Bit is still in infancy. Even that can only hold 1 piece of information, i.e. on or off, regardless of how you chop the ~. Each part shall contain only 1 piece. Human Eyes do observe 2 aspects of the same object, however, the Brains process it with super-fast speed & accuracy. Computers, as yet, cannot do that. Maybe I am an old dog to learn new tricks? Psychologists????????????????

[@tucciproducer]

@goldiedawn17 You don't understand sarcasm, do you?

[@bernd_the_almighty]

@chPPou but that's still brain

[@Oslokiddo]

@infinitelimitation a computer dosent know shitt. all it can do is solve a task that we give it.. and to do that its takes in the information from the harddrive. to the ram. and then the CPU is reading that information and trying to solve it.

[@Skoenner]

After watching this I jammed a 4 GB Block of RAM into the back of my head. I feel mouch clewearair naugh;.´

[@catherinebirch2399]

There is an idea that women are good at multitasking. I'm hopeless at it.

[@anthonyww713]

Perhaps he has never met someone with anxiety. Fora has really gone down hill. If quacks like this are the best this channel can come up with were all doomed

[@FlavioAngPanday]

this is a hoax. because i can drive while texting, i think it depends more on the things that you used to have in a frequent basis. practically training and 80% confidence.

[@mongobeetle]

See girls? I'm human! I can't multitask! I cannot listen to you and watch football at the same time!

[@soURfunnyYOUthink]

my brain sucks!

[@Kitt0000]

Cognitive overload. BS, I watched this while drunk and having flashes of the philosophy i studied this morning. A psychedelic mixture of Heidegger and Plato this time but unfortunately i remember everything Nicholas Carr said.

[@sixtopian]

The brain CAN multi-task. Are you breathing? Are you digesting? Are you growing new cells? Are you reading this? Are you hearing the video? Can you walk in the right direction while keeping balanced? That's all controlled by you brain. The question should be more like: Can we focus on multiple tasks that require us to consciously think about what we are doing?

[@sifurestitaatbodyma9923]

sixtopian I'm pretty sure that people know that the "multitasking" as presented in the video, is about conscious multiple task performance. :)

[@silentlessons4221]

I think its obvious to anyone and everyone knows the type of multitasking thats being referred to here.

[@feiyu8817]

Stop trying to contradict this video 99% of people watching know the term "multitasking" which is meant by this video.

[@feiyu8817]

And adding on to that, the brain does not even control breathing, digesting, growing new cells. This video clearly states "the brain"

[@vottoduder]

Thats right. Its impossible to sing and dance and play an instrument, all at the same time. These people that learn to play 3 and 4 instruments at the same time is not really happening. Its not true that you can play the drums (keep tempo, keep the back beat, keep the beat, keep the off/alternate beat, (all 4 limbs are doing something different)) and sing all at the same time. You cant do it because this guy says so. I call bullshit.

[@aloysiustelevander8645]

+vottoduder as a musician, it's not multitasking mang, it's muscle memory and rhythm. multitasking would be reading/playing new music on each instrument. and, that sir, is impossible.

[@vottoduder]

+Aloysius Televander It sounds like that you are just redefining the word "task".

[@vottoduder]

+Aloysius Televander If reading is a task, then singing is a task, which would mean that dancing is a task. If writing is a task, then playing an instrument is a task. And if I can sing, dance and play an instrument all at the same time, then I am multitasking. What is your definition of a "task"?

[@aloysiustelevander8645]

Maybe something like, inclusion of processing new information. Memorizing a song and dance is one thing, like I said, doing a new dance and singing a new song, completely different story, and also impossible.

[@aloysiustelevander8645]

Reading/playing a new piece of music, singing new lyrics/melody, doing directed, non practiced dancing simultaneously? impossible.

[@mrsledge]

haha the TED effect

[@ingoatd]

@volound ouuuhhh you...

[@MonoNako]

Serioulsy I can multitask I can run,jump,write on paper drink a water

[@GiganFTW]

@papichulo4rlife I agree

[@FlavioAngPanday]

@ernis1100 =) thanks for that info sir

[@KeepHimAtBay]

yep brain cannot multitask...ask harry kahne.

[@HaphazardCrappola]

The poor of the mind. I refuse to believe I can't multitask, therefore I can multitask lol.

[@SilconOne]

we can multi task ever walk down the street and be on your phone and eat a sandwich at the same time

[@Will-Holland]

SilconOne that involves muscle memory not multitasking.

[@rushrush1209]

I'll never try to eat and talk on the phone at the same time. Not worth it, and I could choke on my food then.

[@betterfly7398]

That means your Legs and Mouth are on auto pilot. that is why if suddenly something appears in front of you, you will stop and eating and talking on the phone to react to what happened.

[@geganobo]

@volound EUREKA!

[@tucciproducer]

Is it wrong that I lost interest half-way through his speech on multi-tasking? SQUIRREL!

[@GiganFTW]

@Kojitsu Trololololol what abou. A sex move?