Why Multitasking Can Harm Cognitive Performance and How Neurofeedback Can Help

Have you ever tried to check email, make a phone call and complete a work project at the same time only to feel exhausted and unproductive? Multitasking has become a huge part of modern life. With more and more demands on our time and attention, we often feel the need to stretch ourselves to accommodate our busy lives. The issue is rather than helping us get more done, multitasking is actually causing us to do less. Worse still, multitasking can damage our attention spans and impede cognitive performance over time.

Neuroscience research has demonstrated that our brains can’t actually focus on multiple tasks at once. Instead, our brains end up switching rapidly between tasks. This comes with a hidden cognitive cost because it takes extra energy for our brains to switch tasks, which can cause our brains to get fatigued faster. Frequent multitasking can also lead to an increased risk for depression, anxiety and cognitive decline in the long-term.

Fortunately, our brains are adaptable and can be retrained to focus and perform more effectively. Neurofeedback can help re-train the brain out of the pattern of multitasking by reducing the need for constant stimulation. Neurofeedback can also increase attention spans, making it easier to be efficient with our time and increase productivity. By breaking free of the habit of multitasking and retraining our attention, we can all think more clearly, become more productive and experience less stress.