The Myth of Multitasking

Multitasking is frequently lauded as an indispensable skill in the modern workplace.

多任务处理常被誉为现代职场中不可或缺的技能。

Neuroscientists, however, contend that genuine simultaneous attention is largely illusory.

然而，神经科学家认为，真正的同时注意在很大程度上只是一种错觉。

What we perceive as multitasking is, in reality, rapid and costly switching between tasks.

我们所认为的多任务处理，实际上是在不同任务之间快速而代价高昂的切换。

Each transition incurs a cognitive penalty, as the brain reorients itself to new demands.

每一次切换都会带来认知上的损耗，因为大脑需要重新适应新的要求。

These fleeting delays accumulate, eroding both accuracy and overall efficiency.

这些转瞬即逝的延迟不断累积，侵蚀着准确性和整体效率。

Paradoxically, habitual multitaskers tend to overestimate their proficiency more than anyone else.

矛盾的是，习惯性多任务处理者往往比任何人都更容易高估自己的能力。

They also appear more susceptible to distraction, even when attempting to concentrate on one thing.

他们似乎也更容易分心，即使在试图专注于一件事的时候也是如此。

Routine activities, such as walking while talking, are a notable exception to this rule.

像边走边说话这样的日常活动，是这一规律的一个显著例外。

For demanding intellectual work, though, undivided attention remains remarkably difficult to surpass.

然而，对于要求很高的脑力工作，全神贯注仍然是极难超越的。