Recent studies in cognitive neuroscience have revealed that the human brain's capacity for multitasking is largely illusory. When individuals attempt to perform two complex tasks simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex rapidly switches between them rather than processing them in parallel. This switching incurs a 'cognitive cost,' manifesting as reduced accuracy and increased reaction time. Furthermore, research indicates that habitual multitaskers perform worse on tests of sustained attention and memory retrieval compared to those who focus on single tasks sequentially. These findings challenge the popular assumption that multitasking enhances productivity, suggesting instead that it impairs higher-order cognitive functions. Consequently, experts advocate for 'monotasking' in educational and professional settings to optimize performance and neural efficiency.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es el efecto principal de intentar realizar dos tareas complejas a la vez?
A. Permite que el cerebro procese la información de manera más eficiente.
B. Esto conduce a una disminución en la precisión y a tiempos de respuesta más lentos.
C. Mejora la atención sostenida y la recuperación de la memoria.
D. Activa el procesamiento paralelo en la corteza prefrontal.
✅ 正确答案
It leads to a decline in accuracy and slower response times.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first