Does multitasking counteract mental decline?
Multitasking is controversially discussed in society. Here we address whether it makes sense; and if so, for whom.
It is well known that multitasking is actually the process of quickly switching one's attention back and forth. That's why we also talk about the "myth of multitasking". But what does that actually do to us? Constantly shifting our focus from one thing to another and switching back and forth quickly requires increased attention. This can still work with routines that have become second nature to us, such as going for a walk and talking. But - perhaps you've encountered it - some people tend to stop when confronted with a difficult question, as if they can't analyse and keep walking at the same time. In fact, when it comes to more complex tasks involving the prefrontal cortex and working memory, multitasking becomes harder. In general, younger people, especially young women, even those with higher fluid intelligence, do better at this.
Nevertheless, keeping demanding tasks in focus at the same time or constantly switching between them is not possible without certain side effects:
- Rapid overstrain
- Stress
- Rapid feelings of irritation or annoyance
Chronic stress can result because attention, concentration and memory are under constant strain; all those cognitive abilities that tend to decline with age. It gets particularly bad when there are no recovery phases, then you can't come down at all and a relaxed state of being remains a distant dream. The head is working non-stop and negative emotions are hardly waiting. They don't exactly make us happier and dumber, because they block us.
Limit stress & ensure good sleep
The constant strain of multitasking is therefore stressful and creates negative emotional states. These, in turn, generate a barrage of chemical reactions at the physical level; a veritable hormone cocktail of cortisol and adrenaline. It is known that this constant stress can lead to stomach ulcers or heart attacks. What is less well known is that the increased continuous exposure to cortisol also brings with it an increased risk of senile dementia.
If you notice permanent stress in the form of restlessness, exhaustion, thought loops and a negative mood, this is an urgent signal to relax body and mind, for example through exercises such as yoga or tai chi. But friendships, love and sex also have a balancing effect.
If you "can't get it down", you will eventually not be able to sleep well. Sleep disorders are now suspected of promoting dementia. Based on a study from Canada, "Sciencealert" reports that sleep and dream disturbances often occur long before the onset of the neurological disease. A disturbance of REM sleep leads to the affected person kicking and punching in their dreams. Some also move around a lot in their bed. Anyone who notices something like this in themselves or their partner should discuss it with a doctor they trust.
The other side of multitasking
As already mentioned, multitasking demands a lot of attention, concentration and memory. We also know that "a rolling stone gathers no moss", i.e. that what needs to be used and practised is what needs to stay fit and efficient.
Wouldn't a certain amount of multitasking make sense as a kind of brain jogging in the middle of life?
Of course, only in moderation, so that stress doesn't stand a chance. Just as one glass of wine is good for you and three is perhaps too much. Using targeted computer training, developmental psychologist Julia Karbach is investigating whether the ability to multitask can be improved in children and older adults. If this were the case, an improvement in attention, concentration and memory would automatically be expected. Both the children and the older adults clearly benefited from the multitasking training. They became faster at solving the alternating tasks. What also became apparent was that the multitasking subjects showed their improved performance in attention, concentration and memory not only on the same tasks, but also on a wide variety of transfer tasks. On top of that, these performance improvements remained stable. Julia Karbach believes that the fact that this "rapid alternation training" addressed relatively many processes simultaneously is the main reason for the transferability to other tasks.
Save time & expand boundaries
So there is a lot to be said for including multitasking training in one's fitness programme. Super agers are usually people who like to kill several birds with one stone, so they are naturally drawn to multitasking, out of their versatility and mental alertness. The developers of the brain jogging software NeuroNation have already taken up this ingenious possibility and developed exercises for multitasking that can be practised online.
Ulman Lindenberger, director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, says: "This new generation of training programmes, which show such a transfer of improved performance to other tasks, makes me optimistic that in the long run we may well come up with products that can actually change and improve mental abilities in general."
Conclusion
Multitasking can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how and what we use it for and in what doses. In daily life, you should avoid excessive stress by multitasking a lot, and at work you should find ways to reduce multitasking, especially since mistakes are more likely to occur alongside stress. But as a supplement to brain jogging, it is definitely worthwhile to train multitasking. On the way to becoming a super-ager, it can be used wonderfully for a limited time each day to shape one's life - with outstanding effects, because almost all areas and tasks of life ultimately benefit from a good memory, good concentration and a high level of attention.
