Myth Two: Multitask Is As Good As Single Task Learning

There is a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Karin Foerde, Barbara J. Knowlton, and Russell Poldrack which has found that multitask learning is less efficient and useful than uninterrupted learning.

This study found that the brain learns in two different manners. Higher level learning involves the hippocampus area of the brain. This area of the brain retrieves information quickly and the brain can apply this information to new situations. Procedural learning happens in the brain's striatum and this learning is very limited.

The researchers found that single task learning takes place in the hippocampus area and multitasking learning basically goes to the striatum area in the brain. Much of multitasking is taking place in the brain's striatum and this learning is very limited. When a person is distracted procedural learning takes place and this learning is not easily manipulated, organized, or applied to new situations.