Introduction
Multitasking is a heterogeneous term. In a narrow definition, it refers to performing two or more tasks at the same time (with dual tasking representing the special case of performing two tasks). A defining property is the temporal overlap of multiple task-component processing that results in the frequently observed performance costs that come with multitasking. These limitations in simultaneous cognitive task-component processing have to be distinguished from widespread simultaneous neural processing in the brain supporting successful task completion. In a broader definition, multitasking can be used to describe applied contexts of complex action cascades as well as situations when two task sets have to be held simultaneously active in working memory (e.g., dual N-back task), but tasks are performed in alternation (i.e., task switching).
Theoretical Models of Multitasking Performance
Performing a task together with another task often impairs task performance compared to...
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Plessow, F., Fischer, R. (2017). Multitasking. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_985-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_985-1
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