Scientific research has identified a bottleneck in our brains that could
suggest we are fundamentally incapable of true multitasking. The
problem, according to Rene Marois, is that there's a sticking point in
the brain. In order to locate this, Marois asked volunteers to watch a
screen and press a key with a specific finger when a particular image
appeared. Then, in a separate activity, they learned to listen to
different recordings and to respond making a specific sound. In both
tasks typical response time was about half a second, and volunteers
quickly reached their peak performance. The trouble came when Marois
showed participants an image, then almost immediately played them a
sound. It appeared that if the second task is introduced within the
half-second or so it takes to process and react to the first, it will
simply be delayed until the first one is done. Delays progressively
shorten as the interval between presenting the tasks lengthens.
1. The main purpose of Rene Marois's experiment was to establish
A. whether some people are more capable of multitasking than others.
B. the stage at which people become too overloaded with input to respond
C. whether a person can perform tasks simultaneously in different
D. the difference in a person's reactions to visual and auditory
2. What does David Meyer say about dual-task performance?
A. Certain types of tasks are easier to carry out concurrently than
B. Success rates vary according to the complexity of the responses
C. Anybody can achieve dual-task competence if they repeat the exercise
D. Success at dual-task activities depends on the person concerned.
3. According to Pierre Jolicoeur, the kind of dual tasks which can
A. combinations which mirror the way people acquire basic skills.
B. procedures which form part of people's everyday activities.