2006年VOA标准英语-Recent Studies Show Multitasking May Hurt a Per

By Ernest Leong
Washington, D.C.
14 August 2006
 
watch Multitasking report

It's a busy, fast moving world many of us live in, one that frequently requires us to "multitask" -- perform several tasks simultaneously¹.  Some scientists say multitasking may not be good for our long-term memories. 

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		People frequently try to do two or more tasks simultaneously

A recent study reveals multi-tasking may hurt a person's memory.  Subjects in the study were required to predict the weather by following a set of simple clues, while also performing a second task involving listening to musical tones.

Test results showed that while the subjects' memories were fine during the multitasking, it appeared to be more difficult for them to retrieve² the memories later on.

Researchers say distractions⁴ that occur during the learning process become entangled⁵ with what was learned, so that one might actually need the distraction³ in order to remember.  It's a form of learning called "habit learning." 

Gerald Gioia, PhD

Gerard Gioia, a researcher at Children's National Medical Center in Maryland says, "Habit learning is a more automatic kind of learning.  It's learning a routine, and some very specific aspects of information. It's something that happens, oftentimes, without our overall awareness⁶."

Gioia says another common way people learn is through "declarative learning" -- learning facts so that they may be easily recalled later on, such as during a test.  It's a different process from habit learning, which occurs in another part of the brain.

 A separate study found that when people are distracted while they learn, for example, by the television, they were using the part of the brain associated with habit, rather than declarative learning.  "Distraction is not a friend to retrieving⁷ multiple sets of information," he says.

Which could mean, if you really need to remember something important, turn off that TV.

1 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

2 retrieve   

vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索

参考例句：

• He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
• The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

3 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

4 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 entangled   

adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bird had become entangled in the wire netting. 那只小鸟被铁丝网缠住了。
• Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war. 一些军事观察家担心美国会卷入另一场战争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 retrieving   

n.检索（过程），取还v.取回( retrieve的现在分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）

参考例句：

• Ignoring all, he searches the ground carefully for any cigarette-end worth retrieving. 没管打锣的说了什么，他留神的在地上找，看有没有值得拾起来的烟头儿。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• Retrieving the nodules from these great depths is no easy task. 从这样的海底深渊中取回结核可不是容易的事情。 来自辞典例句