Study Finds 30,000 Trials Rewire Brain for True Multitasking
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jun 4
Study Finds 30,000 Trials Rewire Brain for True Multitasking
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jun 4
Summary
More than 30,000 image-sorting trials over 5 to 10 weeks shifted task control from the prefrontal cortex to the temporal cortex, researchers said, suggesting practiced tasks can run in parallel rather than through rapid switching.
Brain scans taken before and after training showed the temporal cortex developed a new category-selective area, freeing the prefrontal cortex to handle other demands.
The small study helps explain why experienced drivers can talk or listen to music while driving, though researchers said not all tasks can become safely compatible and people varied in multitasking ability.
The findings could inform research on compulsive behavior and continuous learning, while also offering clues for improving generative AI, which still struggles to learn new tasks without disrupting old ones.