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[Henk]

Paolo Toffanin (Italiё, 1979) is working and doing research at the University of Groningen ( In the North of The Netherlands )

His research will be published next week.
Trying to find the news in English, I found a similar article about a research in the US.
Also published today.
Coincidence...

Anyway, what he tells about multi-tasking is interesting.
"People with a high IQ don't have a larger brain. It is the way they use their brains that makes the difference ".
Doing several tasks at once is a myth. Every task is split in small parts, the brain switches  between tasks  very quick, but works one one task at the time, even if only in a split second.
The talent to organize makes the difference, which  can be learned or trained.
There does not seem to be a difference between men or women, based on biological facts.

A quote in the article, ( see link), sounds familiar for me:
"The people that think they are good multi-taskers are often the worst chaotics."

True, I think.
At my work, many customers are in a hurry
The ones that come in running, while using a cellphone and drinking a coffee-on-the-go are the worst indeed.
Always pushing wrong PIN-numbers, or using the wrong card.
It does not matter indeed if they are men or women.

While others come in relaxed, going with the flow, probably with the same result.

US-link

PS.
Nice it is to read about the same Paolo Toffanin , in the same article, about his reputation as cook at the university.
"I grew up in country-side Italy, where the women would start working  on the meal of the day early in the morning."
He is a convinced "slow-cooker", and surprises people with Italian dishes they thought they knew in the average way.
Not the near-to-perfect-way he cooks it.

[l.m montgomery rocks!]

I am a good multi-tasker, but I will admit I am quite "chaotic".

[Bets]

I'm a good multi tasker too.

I think the research shows what's obvious.  If you do two things at once, you give each half your attention.

What I'm interested in, though, is the relationship between the two tasks.  How does doing one thing influence the other?  For example, listening to classical music while studying is multitasking, or listening to music while driving is multitasking.  While your brain is switching back and forth between the two tasks, can't new ideas be generated?  New feelings?  Refreshed energy?  In theory it's better to concentrate 100%, but intuitively many people find that listening to music while driving can reduce stress, for example.

[Henk]

Interesting to include listening to  music in it.
I am a dedicated lover of classical music.
But when I am driving to my work around busy Amsterdam, I cannot listen to it.
It is hard-rock all the way to keep the adrenaline going.
Lucky, I can avoid the real traffic-jams.
When I do get stuck in one, I do switch to classical.

But is listening to music while driving a task ?
Does it not run parallel with a task like driving , complementing it ?

When I am here in the forum, I often have classical music on.
Which is not doing justice to it. I miss a lot of the music, because I am doing something else that needs my attention.

[muppets123]

I have to multi-task @ work and while i don't really care for it   I have managed to do it well.

At home I don't feel I mutitask as well as I do at work and I actually try to rebel against it.   However, yesterday I found myself multitasking  between making doctors appointments, calling  on insurance stuff, listening to HP on audio book, trying to find out more re my niece's death, contacting  friends, family, being there for Michael,  etc.  I also briefly thought about an on-line security class that i have to complete for work but decided that  could wait til  sunday as I still have 2 weeks to complete it.  Oh  and that I also need to get my haircut  but decided to  wait til monday. 

The only multi-tasking I do in the car is listening to music while I drive and  having a diet pepsi.  I actually like to listen to music in the car and find it helps me relax.

[MissAdventure]

I don't think I'm even great at single tasking.  *laughs*

[Bets]

But is listening to music while driving a task ?
Does it not run parallel with a task like driving , complementing it

I thought the article said it was:

Multitasking involves engaging in two tasks simultaneously. But here's the catch: It's only possible if two conditions are met: 1) at least one of the tasks is so well learned as to be automatic, meaning no focus or thought is necessary to engage in the task (e.g., driving) and 2) the tasks involve different types of brain processing. For example, you can read effectively while listening to classical music because reading comprehension and processing instrumental music engage different parts of the brain. However, your ability to retain information while reading and listening to music with lyrics declines significantly because both tasks activate the language center of the brain.

I agree that tasks can complement each other.

[Henk]

I did not read the article in the link well, I only read the Dutch news, which was less detailed.

Reading it all, it sounds logic.

[Faith]

I have found I'm not good at multitasking. If I try to do two things at once, I easily forget parts of the tasks. For example talking while using the cash point at work makes me easily mess up... Same goes for talking and driving: I tend to forget turns of lane changes. But when the other task is a passive task like listening to music, I'm fine, since I don't need to produce speech or movement, and concentrate more fully on the other task.

[Henk]

Which makes me wonder.
I am working on nightshift now, in an airport fuel/convenience store.
About every 4 minutes a customer in the dead hours between 1 and 4.
Sometimes really busy.

We have interesting magazines, newspapers etc.
But when I try to read, I get irritated and start having a bad mood, when interupted.

But when I am working on a message like this, I am fine.
Also, when watching a movie on my laptop, I am fine too.
I don't mind hitting the space-bar every 4 minutes, I am still in the movie.

Is reading using the same area in my brain, as doing transactions with customers ?
Or is reading asking more of the brain, that interferes with social action ?

[muppets123]

Is reading using the same area in my brain, as doing transactions with customers ?
Or is reading asking more of the brain, that interferes with social action ?

Perhaps reading does ask more of the brain or perhaps you would rather be reading than interacting with customers, except the brain knows thatif you did not have customers than  you might not  have a job!

[irishgirln1]

"Chaotic" doesn't even begin to describe me! I would say that I am...a free spirit. Yes that's it exactly!