The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer's ability to carry out several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more. And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss.
“多任务处理”一词最初指的是计算机一次完成多项任务的能力。对许多人来说，多任务处理已经成为一种生活方式，甚至是成功的关键。事实上，一些优秀的心理有氧运动包括让大脑一次参与两项或两项以上具有挑战性的活动。尽管对一些人来说，一边打电话一边看报纸可能是第二天性，但很多时候，多任务处理会让我们的工作效率降低，而不是提高。研究表明，过多的多任务处理会导致压力、焦虑和记忆力下降。
In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex. Brain scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks. You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you've ever dialed a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you called when the line is answered. What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to another thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back. Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.
为了多任务处理，大脑使用一个被称为前额叶脑皮层的区域。对一次执行多项任务的志愿者进行的脑部扫描显示，当他们从一项任务转移到另一项任务时，大脑的这一区域实际上会在任务之间休息片刻。如果你曾经拨过一个电话号码，但在接电话时突然忘记给谁打电话，那么你自己可能也经历了前额叶脑皮层的“休息时刻”。可能发生的情况是，在拨号和接听之间，你的注意力转移到了另一个想法或任务上，然后过了一会才回来。研究还表明，对于许多志愿者来说，工作效率与一次只执行一项任务相比，在多任务处理时下降。
Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought. Most people don' t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time. However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes.
当至少有一项任务是习惯性的，或者几乎不需要思考时，多任务处理最容易。大多数人并不觉得在吃饭的同时看报纸很难。然而，当同时尝试两项或两项以上需要注意的任务时，人们有时会犯错误。
We often don't remember things as well when we're trying to manage several details at the same time. Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores. That is one of the main reasons we forget people's names—even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them.
当我们试图同时处理几个细节时，我们往往记不住事情。如果没有精神上的专注，我们可能不会对新的信息给予足够的关注，所以它永远不会进入我们的记忆库。这也是我们忘记别人名字的主要原因之一，有时甚至是在他们自我介绍之后。多任务处理也会影响我们的人际关系。如果有人在和朋友打电话时查看了他们的电子邮件，他们可能会表现得心不在焉或漠不关心。它还可能导致此人错过或忽视传递给他们的关键信息。
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