Can Media Multitasking Alter Your Brain?

You’re reading a book, following your friends through social media and listening to your favorite music all at once. It may be stimulating, but you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re being more productive, say communications experts at Ohio State University.

Media multitasking, which is increasingly popular given the growing opportunities for it, doesn’t enhance cognitive functions and could even hurt some of them, such as learning. But it probably makes you feel good, and that’s why you do it, suggests research published in the Journal of Communication.

For example, watching television while reading a book may feel more entertaining than just reading the book, but you’re less likely to remember what you read. You’re also more likely to juggle multimedia when you really need to focus on your work, according to the researchers.