Comments on: Brief interruptions spawn errors that could be disastrous for professionals

By: Cybernettr

Cybernettr — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:15:48 +0000

They must have conducted that research using some rather old Macs, since that screenshot is from a piece of pre-Mac OS X software.

By: Tom Armstrong

Tom Armstrong — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:39:38 +0000

Essentially a group of ‘experts’ are telling us that an interuption in concentration is not a helpful? Doh…………………..!

By: pete r.

pete r. — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:50:30 +0000

The same can be seen in music. For most people, even a small distraction increases the probability of hitting a wrong note.

By: Kris Knight

Kris Knight — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:08:00 +0000

Typing two letters took 2.8 seconds????? I find that nearly impossible to believe. Is THAT an error?

By: Tony Stender

Tony Stender — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:29:50 +0000

Good to see my experiment with a Samsung tablet and the football games on Sunday left me unsatisfied with any of my usual relaxing distractions.

Rather it was like a totally confusing and unfinished feeling.

I always seem to get more done, alone with my own unfinished thoughts, which need sorting and cleaning up to make comprehensible.

Seems like one question can force my brain to begin to try to answer it as soon as it is heard.

Maybe that is the power of questions. They shift attention away from the context of the working neurons, to other un-related contexts. Thus leaving the other project neurons un-reinforced and abandoned.

I have often wondered at the power of a question to seemingly force the mind to begin to think of an answer.

Does anyone else here understand this question enough to answer it confidently?

By: Mr.X

Mr.X — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:08:59 +0000

Here, for you family guy (probably named after the cartoon, considering your comment):

http://overpopulationisamyth.com/

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:24:08 +0000

Ooops, phone ringing, brb….

By: Family Guy

Family Guy — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:04:35 +0000

Consider the effect of a large family size on the academic potential of children.

Having no siblings, I don’t know, but in many cases siblings don’t seem to be helpful in concentrating on your homework (especially when the house is not large enough). Having a large bunch of siblings, which is not uncommon among those who are found to be in the academically struggling group, would seem to be practically disastrous unless you wear earplugs.

Just another overpopulation negative..

By: Jo Sturdy

Jo Sturdy — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:23:05 +0000

As a divergent thinker I am always multi tasking, I tend to answer calls, check text messages and emails as well as writing training session plans and reports. Not to mention chatting and sharing ideas with colleagues who sit around me. Up till recently I thought this was a good thing! Since learning more about neuroscience I realise that it was not the most helpful way to operate. I find the open office enironment can really distract me as I love to brainstorm so now when I need to focus I find a quiet space away from colleages so that I am not distracted and, equally importantly, I am not tempted to distract others either! Thank you for the timely reminder.

By: Editor

Editor — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:44:23 +0000

Catnip. It’s crack for cats. :-)

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:45:45 +0000

Hmm, how did you get your cat to write the article while jumping on your lap? I’d say your cat did pretty well, for a cat.

By: Bri

Bri — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:12:11 +0000

It’s interesting that this is finally getting some attention. The vast majority of errors that humans make are the result of distractions. Those are for all intents and purposes, interruptions.