[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.61,0:00:09.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. It's quite a privilege\Nto be here today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.10,0:00:14.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to start with this picture here\Nand see if anyone in this room -
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.33,0:00:16.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let's start with a show of hands -
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.14,0:00:18.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knows what this picture is depicting.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.92,0:00:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does anyone know what this is?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.44,0:00:25.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the feeling that you have\Nafter you've left the couch
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.27,0:00:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a clear idea in mind about\Nwhat you wanted to get in the kitchen.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.88,0:00:29.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.92,0:00:33.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You arrive there, look in the refrigerator\Nand have no idea what you're doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.88,0:00:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.90,0:00:37.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Has anyone in this room\Never experienced this?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.21,0:00:39.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't be shy if you have.\NYou could share with us.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.22,0:00:41.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How amazing is that,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.57,0:00:43.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our magnificent brains\Ncould let us down,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.93,0:00:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could know exactly\Nwhat we want, one single item,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.93,0:00:49.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just seven seconds later,\Nwe don't remember it.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.34,0:00:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Clearly, we have the ability to remember\Na single item for seven seconds.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.02,0:00:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How is that possible?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.40,0:00:56.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How is it possible\Nthat our brains could fail us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.75,0:00:59.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in that very easy task\Nof just holding one thing in mind?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.60,0:01:03.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The brain is the most remarkable\Nstructure we're aware of.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.38,0:01:06.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's capable of incredibly rapid\Nparallel processing,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.29,0:01:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allowing us to interpret\Ncomplex stimuli in our environment
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.52,0:01:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within a tenth of a second.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.20,0:01:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even computers,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.49,0:01:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are designed to try to do this,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.28,0:01:16.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have an inability to do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.49,0:01:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus, we store a massive amount of\Ninformation over the course of our lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.12,0:01:23.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by some estimates,\Na billion bits of information -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.36,0:01:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's 50,000 times the text\Nstored in the library of Congress.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.53,0:01:31.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Despite living in a rather small space,\Nthe brain is a massive structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.58,0:01:34.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having approximately\Na hundred billion neurons -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.76,0:01:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's on the order of stars\Nin the core of our Milky Way galaxy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.61,0:01:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's even more impressive
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.14,0:01:44.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there are hundreds of trillions\Nof connections between these neurons,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.26,0:01:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating a staggering network\Nof very, very intricate complexity.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.28,0:01:54.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I don't have to tell you\Na lot of cool facts about the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.30,0:01:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for you to realize how amazing it is:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.64,0:01:59.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every emotion you feel,\Nevery thought you have,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.12,0:02:02.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every sensation you experience,\Nevery move you make,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.33,0:02:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your very sense of identity -
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.07,0:02:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all emerges from\Nthe function of our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.92,0:02:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Despite that, the brain\Nhas some very distinct limitations.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.04,0:02:12.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll be talking about three of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.91,0:02:14.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first is attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.96,0:02:18.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know, just based on our experience\Nand now an incredible amount of data,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.58,0:02:21.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we cannot distribute our attention\Neverywhere, infinitely.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.55,0:02:25.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can selectively focus our attention,\Nand that's what it's required to do:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.16,0:02:29.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we direct our resources\Nto what our goals are guiding us towards.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.96,0:02:32.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another limitation is something\Nknown as working memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.82,0:02:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Working memory is online memory,\Nnot long-term memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.73,0:02:37.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the memory you use\Nto guide your actions;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.90,0:02:41.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it happens during a conversation\Nto carry the thread of what's going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.85,0:02:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's also the type\Nof the memory that you use --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.16,0:02:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the past, when someone gave you\Na phone number instead of send it to you,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.74,0:02:50.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you had to hold it in mind\Nuntil you got it into the phone.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.51,0:02:53.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know that there are very strict\Nlimits on this capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.66,0:02:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they decrease as information\Nbecomes more complex.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.45,0:02:59.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another limitation is speed.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.46,0:03:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although, as I described, our brains\Nand certainly the neurons,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.56,0:03:06.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you look down at a high resolution,\Nare capable of very rapid processing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.51,0:03:09.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because our brain functions\Nas this massive network,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.41,0:03:11.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you have very complex operations,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.60,0:03:15.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,speed of all these areas communicating\Nwith each other becomes a limitation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.46,0:03:19.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these three limitations\Non our brain's abilities
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.19,0:03:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leads to a sensitivity to interference.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.54,0:03:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to describe what that is.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.28,0:03:27.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We went and we asked folks\Nwhen they had this experience -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.69,0:03:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and almost everyone describes this;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.44,0:03:33.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it increases as you get older,\Nfor those of you that had not noticed -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.41,0:03:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What happens?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.35,0:03:38.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What led you to find your way\Nto the kitchen with a clear idea in mind
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.72,0:03:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when you got there\Nyou didn't know what you were doing,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.74,0:03:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you could not remember\Nwhat you were trying to get?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.66,0:03:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And people describe in their\Nbest experience what is happening,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.40,0:03:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we built a conceptual\Nframework from this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.67,0:03:53.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then we study it in our lab,\NI'm a neuroscientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.28,0:03:55.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we use tools to study\Nhow the brain functions,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.89,0:03:58.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how that leads\Nto higher-order behaviors.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.29,0:04:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we built the framework based on\Npeople's anecdotes and experiences,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.60,0:04:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then tried to pursue it empirically\Nand see if these were really mechanisms
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.38,0:04:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that influence behavior\Nin the way people experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.84,0:04:10.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is how the framework goes:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.64,0:04:13.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we see that there's two types\Nof interference, generally -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.53,0:04:16.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,internal interference\Nand externally induced interference.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.69,0:04:21.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We could split those each into different\Ntypes of interference based on your goals.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.61,0:04:24.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if the information is totally\Nirrelevant to you,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.83,0:04:26.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we consider it a distraction.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.70,0:04:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's say you're at a restaurant\Nhaving a conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.33,0:04:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have any hopes of remembering\Nthe details of that conversation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.61,0:04:35.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know you're very busy\Nsuppressing the chatter in the room,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.53,0:04:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe the waiter is taking\Nan order at the next table,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.05,0:04:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're just trying to block that out,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.83,0:04:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's irrelevant information,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.18,0:04:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're trying to suppress it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.60,0:04:46.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That same stimuli can serve
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.04,0:04:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as what we call interruptions,\Nor multitasking,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.48,0:04:51.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you think maybe you can do\Nmore than one thing at a time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.38,0:04:53.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe you're having that conversation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.22,0:04:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but now you're trying to listen
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.71,0:04:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what the specials are\Nbeing announced at the next table.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.66,0:05:00.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or you're on the way\Nto the refrigerator and a phone rings;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.47,0:05:03.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you pick it up, and now you have to\Nreengage in your initial task.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.69,0:05:05.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how we split external interference.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.89,0:05:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This can all happen internally as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.44,0:05:09.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of it is mind wondering:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.05,0:05:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your thoughts leave your focus\Nagainst your will, irrelevantly,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.60,0:05:17.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just travel to places that you\Ndid not intend them to.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.71,0:05:19.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or you could be multitasking internally.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.99,0:05:21.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps you're doing it now:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.59,0:05:23.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you pay attention to what I'm saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.36,0:05:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you look at the slides, listening to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.32,0:05:27.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you might be planning\Nwhat to have for lunch later
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.84,0:05:30.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and who you're going to meet\Nin the afternoon.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.15,0:05:35.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this constant interference keeps us\Nfrom being present, directed on our goals.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.90,0:05:41.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, given those limitations of our brain\Nand our susceptibility to interference,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.32,0:05:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what happens when you take your brain\Nand you expose it to this?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.43,0:05:45.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.60,0:05:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're probably all familiar\Nwith most of these things.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.84,0:05:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The last several decades\Nhave literally seen
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.90,0:05:56.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an explosion of the diversity\Nand accessibility of electronic media,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.47,0:05:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the devices that deliver it,\Nmany of which are portable.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.52,0:06:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably most of you have a computer\Nin your pockets right now
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.52,0:06:05.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that allows you to access\Nthis at any moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.46,0:06:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's even more profound,\Nit's not the change in technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.31,0:06:11.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but historically one media\Nhas replaced other medias.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.92,0:06:13.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not what's happening now.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.49,0:06:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, data shows,\NI'm sure you're all aware of it,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.06,0:06:18.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that people are using medias\Nat the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.51,0:06:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Approximately 95 percent of people
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.40,0:06:23.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,report using more than one\Nform of media at a time,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.13,0:06:26.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that activity takes place\Nalmost 30 percent of your days.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.08,0:06:30.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Children might probably\Nhave this even more so,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.65,0:06:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although it's just beginning\Nto be investigated now.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.10,0:06:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost an obsessive media\Nmultitasking frenzy -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.61,0:06:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're almost uncomfortable
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.90,0:06:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when taken away from your ability\Nto interact with technology in this way.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.02,0:06:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before I move forward, I want to say\Nthat I'm a friend of technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.27,0:06:48.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not anti-technology; I use all these\Nwonderful toys as well as you do.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.90,0:06:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here I am, working on this talk;\NI've two large computer monitors,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.36,0:06:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,email on the left side,\Ncell phone in hand accepting texts,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.72,0:06:57.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,music playing in the background.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.98,0:07:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is how we all interact\Nwith technology, at least to some degree.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.22,0:07:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some people have up to six or more forms\Nof media at any given time.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.46,0:07:08.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another thing that's changed\Nare expectations.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.93,0:07:11.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This constant access to communications,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.24,0:07:17.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,computers and data has really changed\Nsocietal expectations.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.48,0:07:22.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now immediate responsiveness\Nand continuous productivity are expected.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.79,0:07:25.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you are on vacation\Nand check your email?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.39,0:07:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A little dark in here, but I just see\Na lot of movement out there.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.52,0:07:32.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'll take that\Nas a resounding ''yes,'' right.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.43,0:07:34.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we know that our ability to disconnect,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.100,0:07:37.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to really be present in what\Nwe're experiencing is decreasing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.92,0:07:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even when we're "taking vacations,"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.88,0:07:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the break from all of this\Nconstant productivity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.81,0:07:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we should ask the question:\Nhow do we function at all?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.27,0:07:51.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Given those limitations\Nand how we interact with technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.15,0:07:53.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how are we capable of getting\Nanything done?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.55,0:07:56.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to tell you about\Nthe process of cognitive control.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.79,0:08:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cognitive control is what allows us\Nto function at least to some degree
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.20,0:08:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under these circumstances.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.88,0:08:04.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How we perceive the world\Nis not a passive process.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.27,0:08:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our environment just\Ndoesn't flood into our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.70,0:08:09.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's sculpted and shaped by our attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.47,0:08:11.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two types of attention:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.03,0:08:14.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One attention is external,\Nstimulus-driven attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.36,0:08:18.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is the environment imposing\Nitself upon how you perceive the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.27,0:08:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there's a flash of light, a loud sound,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.50,0:08:22.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if someone calls your name\Nquietly behind you,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.89,0:08:25.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you pay attention,\Nyou redirect your attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.34,0:08:28.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anything that's very salient or novel\Ndemands your attention
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.74,0:08:30.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and increases your perception of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.71,0:08:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other type of attention -
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.10,0:08:35.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the environment coming in\Nis also known as bottom-up attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.04,0:08:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other type is internal,\Ngoal-directed attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.78,0:08:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what you're doing now.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.85,0:08:41.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're choosing to focus\Nyour cognitive resources
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.21,0:08:43.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on what you're hearing\Nand what you're seeing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.79,0:08:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is known as top-down attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.83,0:08:47.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your goal-directed attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.29,0:08:50.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of your interactions\Nwith the environment involve this balance
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.72,0:08:55.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between these two forms of attention\Nthat are dictating your perception.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.39,0:08:59.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And now we know from a lot of research,\Na lot of it from our lab also,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.05,0:09:05.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that this influence then goes on\Nand influences what you remember,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.12,0:09:08.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both in the short-term\Nand in the long-term.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.03,0:09:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what happens when all this interference\Nthat we are being exposed to now
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.47,0:09:17.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exceeds the capabilities\Nof our cognitive control?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.61,0:09:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, what we now realize is\Nthat there is a broad and deep influence:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.52,0:09:27.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,safety, family, our social development,\Nworkplace, education.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.93,0:09:29.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of these things are affected.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.92,0:09:33.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's not nearly enough time\Nin this talk to talk about these
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.33,0:09:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since each one of these can have\Ntheir own lecture associated with them,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.10,0:09:39.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showing you how broad this issue is.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.32,0:09:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I'm going to talk to you\Nabout in detail is cognition,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.32,0:09:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because this is what we study in our lab,\Nspecifically memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.31,0:09:50.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a really beautiful quote\Nby Samuel Johnson,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.52,0:09:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was a British author in the 1700s.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.19,0:09:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He wasn't a psychologist,\Nhe wasn't a neuroscientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.67,0:09:58.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he was incredibly insightful.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.25,0:10:02.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said something that really showed\Na profound awareness,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.45,0:10:04.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because there was no data\Non this at the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.89,0:10:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What he said is that "the true art\Nof memory is the art of attention,"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.89,0:10:11.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that "no man will read\Nwith much advantage
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.46,0:10:14.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is not able, at pleasure,\Nto evacuate his mind,"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.32,0:10:16.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that "if the repositories\Nof thought are already full,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.85,0:10:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what can they receive?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.60,0:10:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And "if the mind is employed\Non the past or the future,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.23,0:10:23.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the book will be held\Nbefore the eyes in vain."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.96,0:10:26.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a full career\Nof research studies here.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.40,0:10:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're slowly working our way through these
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.68,0:10:31.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to show what's going on\Nin the brain that leads to this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.85,0:10:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how true is this to our behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.78,0:10:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I figured the easiest way to do this
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.99,0:10:40.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to have you perform\None of our experiments right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.37,0:10:42.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you can get an idea of what we do.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.19,0:10:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while we do this,\Nwe'll record brain activities.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.65,0:10:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'll do a less demanding\Nversion of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.84,0:10:49.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you're not shoved\Ninside one of our scanners.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.87,0:10:54.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we are going have you do now is\N"Remember a face," very simple experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.51,0:10:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One face will come up,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.74,0:10:57.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it comes up pretty quickly,\Nso be ready for it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.94,0:11:01.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then around 7 seconds will pass,\Nthere will be an X on the screen,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.21,0:11:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you should remember\Nthe face - just one face.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.56,0:11:06.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then another face comes up,\Nand your job is be to say,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.11,0:11:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Yes, that's the face I saw,"\Nor "No, that's a new face."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.04,0:11:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,O.K.? Ready to give it a shot?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.64,0:11:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audience) No.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.64,0:11:23.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No. The answer is no.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.15,0:11:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If any of you thinking yes,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.52,0:11:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do not be nervous,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.52,0:11:27.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no reason to make a clinic\Nappointment right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.91,0:11:31.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It takes practice to get used to this,\Npeople don't always get a 100 percent.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.01,0:11:35.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to have you do another version\Nof this experiment, it's the same thing -
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.86,0:11:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see a face, after a period of time
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.49,0:11:40.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,another face'll come up\Nand you'll have to see if it matches.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.36,0:11:43.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in this experiment,\Nanother face will pop up in the middle,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.35,0:11:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for that face you'll have to\Nmake a decision: is it a male over 20?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.78,0:11:49.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then you go back to the business\Nof remembering that first face.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.80,0:11:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does that make sense?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.80,0:11:51.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.83,0:11:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Remember one face and make\Na decision on the middle face.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.51,0:11:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pretty simple. Give it a shot.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.48,0:12:06.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audience) Yes.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.02,0:12:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the same face.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.02,0:12:10.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, did this seem a little harder to you?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.58,0:12:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audience) Yes.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.62,0:12:12.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is a little harder.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.74,0:12:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you study even healthy 20-30-year-olds,\Nyou see that the performance diminishes
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.38,0:12:19.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you introduce that second task,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.69,0:12:21.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though it's not a hard experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.56,0:12:24.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not only that, but if you introduce\Na face in the middle
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.19,0:12:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's totally irrelevant,\Nyour performance also drops -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.02,0:12:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very subtle, but consistently.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.33,0:12:31.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you happen to be older than 60,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.49,0:12:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your performance drops\Neven more from the distraction
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.99,0:12:35.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even more so from the interruption.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.17,0:12:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we see that there's an exaggerated\Neffect with age of this impact
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.22,0:12:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's even there in 20- and 30-year-olds.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.47,0:12:46.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are now looking at how this type\Nof distraction and interruptions
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.20,0:12:48.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might affect your long-term memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.30,0:12:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we did an experiment where we showed\Nour participants a series of 168 pictures
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.04,0:12:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that had different numbers of objects.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.23,0:12:59.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what you see here are 3 crowns,\N4 couches, that's 4 vacuum cleaners -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.52,0:13:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,though they look like Statues of Liberty\Nevery time I look at that slide.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.34,0:13:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you see all these pictures,\Nand then, after an hour,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.18,0:13:07.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you go inside our MRI scanner
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.97,0:13:10.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we could see what's\Nhappening in your brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.19,0:13:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you hear these names:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.60,0:13:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Crown," and when you hear "Crown,"
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.34,0:13:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to press the button\Non how many you remember seeing.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.20,0:13:19.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here the correct answer would be 3,\Nor it might be new,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.09,0:13:20.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe we never showed that one before.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.93,0:13:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The interesting thing is that we look\Nat what happens to your memory
Dialogue: 0,0:13:24.23,0:13:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when your eyes are shut,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.69,0:13:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are open\Nlooking at a grey screen,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.79,0:13:30.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when your eyes are open\Nlooking at a busy visual picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.03,0:13:33.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what we found\Nis that the detailed quality,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.73,0:13:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your recollection of those details decline
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.02,0:13:39.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just by having your eyes open\Nlooking at a picture,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.56,0:13:41.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is basically\Nwhat you do all day long.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.19,0:13:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just that very simple stimulus,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.86,0:13:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you have nothing to do\Nbesides remember,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.24,0:13:49.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,declines just by having your eyes open.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.92,0:13:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Later, you should do this experiment:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.75,0:13:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go up to a significant other\Nor a friend, look them in the eyes,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.77,0:13:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ask them to tell you in detail\Nwhat they had for dinner last night.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.36,0:14:01.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost invariably, what you'll see\Nis that they look away from you.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.86,0:14:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we think is going on\Nfrom looking at the brain data
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.50,0:14:07.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that people are looking for\Na quiet place in their environment
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.73,0:14:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to recreate this memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.94,0:14:10.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just looking at your face
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.88,0:14:13.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is too distracting\Nto do this at a high level.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.21,0:14:14.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.57,0:14:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nothing personal.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.10,0:14:19.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We did another experiment,\Nwhere it was basically the same,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.88,0:14:22.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but now it was done in silence,\Nor we went into a restaurant
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.79,0:14:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we taped the normal chatter\Nthat occurs in a restaurant,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.30,0:14:28.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we found the same decline in memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.86,0:14:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The point of this
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.90,0:14:33.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not that you should walk around\Nwith blindfolds on and earplugs in.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.21,0:14:37.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The point is to show you\Nhow exquisitely sensitive our memory is
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.52,0:14:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even to the normal environmental\Nstimulation that we cannot escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.89,0:14:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you can imagine
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.90,0:14:45.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you layer upon all the normal\Ncomplexity that exists in our environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.08,0:14:48.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we do this, the reason\Nwe make such simple experiments
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.91,0:14:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is we're recording brain activity\Nwith these tools:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.33,0:14:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,functional MRI that lets us look at blood\Nflow correlates of neural activity
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.51,0:14:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lets us see where in the brain\Nevents are occurring;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.20,0:15:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as EEG, in which we're looking at\Nelectrical signatures of neural activity,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.53,0:15:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we can see\Nwhen events are occurring.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.70,0:15:05.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we do these tools
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.89,0:15:10.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand what happens in our brain\Nwhen we have interference
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.45,0:15:12.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how it diminishes our abilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.56,0:15:15.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm just going to summarize this\Nwith a couple of cartoons,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.42,0:15:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,data from our lab and so many labs
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.43,0:15:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to give you the latest understanding\Nabout what's going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.59,0:15:23.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is your brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.28,0:15:25.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The front part is over here on this side,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.73,0:15:28.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what we see is\Nthat the prefrontal cortex -
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.68,0:15:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's the part of our brain\Nthat makes us most human,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.76,0:15:35.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the part that's evolved the most,\Nthe part that develops the latest,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.37,0:15:38.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the part that's involved \Nin this cognitive control.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.95,0:15:42.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you're confronted \Nwith distraction, it acts as a bouncer.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.15,0:15:45.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's saying, "What information\Nis on the guest list?"
Dialogue: 0,0:15:46.01,0:15:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And through its connectivity in a network\Nwith visual parts of the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.45,0:15:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are in the back,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.66,0:15:52.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it controls what information gets in.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.20,0:15:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see this is\Na very busy night club,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.22,0:15:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but your visual cortex will only fit\Nsix things or even less at a time,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.52,0:16:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on how complicated they are.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.74,0:16:04.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When information gets in\Nthat's not on the guest list,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:04.60,0:16:07.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have a cost - your performance drops.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.48,0:16:09.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what changes as we get older:
Dialogue: 0,0:16:09.42,0:16:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our filter, our ability to block out\Ninformation decreases,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.23,0:16:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the degree that it decreases\Ndirectly correlates
Dialogue: 0,0:16:15.23,0:16:19.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with our inability to remember the things\Nthat we're trying to remember - our goals.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:19.96,0:16:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What happens in terms of multitasking?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:22.77,0:16:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once again, the prefrontal\Ncortex is in charge.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.23,0:16:27.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But here it's acting\Nas a flight controller.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.42,0:16:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's determining what information\Nis the priority right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:31.34,0:16:34.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and through its connections\Nwith the back of the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.00,0:16:35.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's making decisions.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:35.05,0:16:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if you're crazy enough
Dialogue: 0,0:16:36.32,0:16:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be riding a bike through Manhattan\Nnext to a cab, texting,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.92,0:16:41.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have a lot of decisions to make.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.80,0:16:45.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, maybe, the first decision\Nis to focus on the traffic,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.36,0:16:49.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then you think that it's safe enough\Nto now continue your text message,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.17,0:16:50.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so you do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.74,0:16:54.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what you don't do is this:\Nyou don't split those decisions.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:55.04,0:16:58.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The prefrontal cortex has\Nwhat's known as a central bottleneck.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:58.38,0:17:00.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so what you do is switch.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.64,0:17:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your prefrontal cortex\Nswitches between tasks
Dialogue: 0,0:17:02.87,0:17:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though it feels like\Nyou're doing more than one thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.66,0:17:08.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what's led this being referred to\Nas the myth of multitasking -
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.98,0:17:11.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you're not really doing\Nmore than one thing
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.32,0:17:13.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unless they become very automated,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:13.04,0:17:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gum chewing, walking.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.55,0:17:18.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although even those have been found\Nto have some interference with each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.27,0:17:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,believe it or not.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:19.30,0:17:20.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:17:20.74,0:17:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With each switch, there is a time delay,\Nand this leads to a cost -
Dialogue: 0,0:17:24.50,0:17:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an impact on performance.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:26.09,0:17:29.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You do not do two things\Nas well as you do one thing
Dialogue: 0,0:17:29.40,0:17:33.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you switch back and forth between them,\Nand this gets worse as you get older.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.50,0:17:37.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We just had a paper published last week\Nthat shows that as you get older,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.65,0:17:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this switching, the letting go,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.68,0:17:43.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the disengaging and\Nthe reengaging become slower,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:43.00,0:17:45.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this creates the\Ninterference in your memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:46.62,0:17:47.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we do it?
Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.88,0:17:50.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get the impression, \Nand we have lots of data now,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:50.58,0:17:53.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this is negative on our performance.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.51,0:17:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is not a lot of data for this,\Nsome of this is anecdotal,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.51,0:17:59.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on my impressions,\Nbut it's a resonable place to start.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:59.54,0:18:00.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Multitasking.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:01.14,0:18:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have this sense it gives flexibility,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:03.10,0:18:05.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fresh perspective, increased variety,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:05.26,0:18:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it enables us to use\Ndowntime productively,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:07.83,0:18:11.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but probably the most salient aspect\Nis that it's just more fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:11.43,0:18:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are novelty seeking creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:13.69,0:18:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very strong part\Nof our evolution to seek out new.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:16.98,0:18:19.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It stimulates the dopamine system,\Nthe reward system.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:20.09,0:18:24.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is no doubt that one chunk of time\Nin which you're multitasking
Dialogue: 0,0:18:24.02,0:18:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has more novelty than the same\Nperiod of time in unitasking.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:27.65,0:18:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so we probably seek it out.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:29.36,0:18:33.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's even been a question that maybe\Nit's even addicting at a certain level
Dialogue: 0,0:18:33.52,0:18:38.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're constantly pressured\Nto get back into a new task
Dialogue: 0,0:18:38.45,0:18:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once you become used to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:40.22,0:18:42.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How about distraction?\NIt's a little more complicated.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:42.77,0:18:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do people go into noisy coffee shops\Nto read and to work?
Dialogue: 0,0:18:46.31,0:18:47.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does anyone do that in this room?
Dialogue: 0,0:18:47.92,0:18:49.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right, it's very common.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.18,0:18:51.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Usually you know\Nwhich type of person you are.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:51.36,0:18:55.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, it's something that's interesting -\Nall this we're exploring in our lab now
Dialogue: 0,0:18:55.56,0:18:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand the driving force of this,\Nand are there possible benefits?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:00.20,0:19:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what can be done about this?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:01.78,0:19:04.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's just too dreary\Nto say all these negative things
Dialogue: 0,0:19:04.48,0:19:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then to walk off the stage.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:06.55,0:19:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we don't have all the answers,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:09.55,0:19:11.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I can tell you it seems\Nthere are two paths,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:11.86,0:19:12.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least to me:
Dialogue: 0,0:19:12.86,0:19:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could change our behavior,\Nor we could change our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:15.89,0:19:16.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:19:16.89,0:19:19.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not necessarily in this scary way \NI'm depicting over here,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:19.70,0:19:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in a positive way.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:21.01,0:19:24.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we could change our behavior\Nbecause someone forces us to, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:24.84,0:19:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They say it's too dangerous to talk\Non the phone or to text while driving,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:29.86,0:19:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we're not letting you do it anymore;\Nwe give you a ticket if you do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:33.50,0:19:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's other ways\Nwe can change our behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:19:35.81,0:19:37.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on things less dangerous to society.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:37.60,0:19:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we could make decisions.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:39.33,0:19:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just because we have\Nall these wonderful technologies
Dialogue: 0,0:19:41.89,0:19:44.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't mean we have to use it\Nall at exactly the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:44.88,0:19:48.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get to make decisions\Nbased upon what we now understand
Dialogue: 0,0:19:48.52,0:19:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how this interaction\Nwith technology and with ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:19:51.79,0:19:53.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,changes our behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:53.18,0:19:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm going to tell you what I do;\NI will not tell you what to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:56.79,0:19:58.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since I've researched this,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:58.08,0:20:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt that I needed to make\Nsome decisions about my own behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:01.38,0:20:02.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is what I decided:
Dialogue: 0,0:20:02.78,0:20:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When working on something very important,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:04.79,0:20:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that demands high quality,\Nespecially something time sensitive,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:08.45,0:20:11.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do one thing at a time,\Nsingular attention,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:11.36,0:20:15.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I quit my email - too distracting\Nwith messages coming in -
Dialogue: 0,0:20:15.35,0:20:16.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I turn off my phone,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:16.48,0:20:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I close my door, I do one thing,\Nand I find it quite enjoyable.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:20.80,0:20:23.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually had stopped\Ndoing that for quite a while.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:23.64,0:20:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I don't do this all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.56,0:20:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is many things in my day\Nthat are very boring,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:28.41,0:20:29.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know they have to get done,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:29.83,0:20:31.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I know if I try to do\None thing at a time,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:32.01,0:20:33.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would never finish it.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:33.24,0:20:36.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I might set aside three hours\Nof just intense multitasking;
Dialogue: 0,0:20:36.18,0:20:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more I'm switching, the better;\Nit just keeps it moving along.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:39.38,0:20:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, it's not a message\Nthat technology is bad, don't do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:42.24,0:20:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's just the point\Nthat decisions need to be made
Dialogue: 0,0:20:44.91,0:20:47.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we interact\Nand our environment changes.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:47.05,0:20:48.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's happened many times in the past,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:48.81,0:20:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is just another example that we\Nhave to learn how to deal with better.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:52.56,0:20:53.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Changing our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:54.14,0:20:57.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our brains are capable\Nof a tremendous degree of plasticity.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:57.36,0:21:00.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That means it adapts and modifies\Nto stimuli from the environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:00.86,0:21:03.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we now know that this\Nis not just when you're a child,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:03.61,0:21:05.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it occurs through your entire life.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:05.30,0:21:09.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are looking at exercises - there's \Na video game that we developed in our lab
Dialogue: 0,0:21:09.85,0:21:13.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see if we can strengthen\Nthese abilities through practice.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:13.71,0:21:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in this case, it's a car driving game\Nand you're interacting with the road,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:17.45,0:21:20.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,signs come up, sometimes relevant\Nand sometimes irrelevant,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:21.06,0:21:23.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you're pressing buttons,\Nmoving, challenging yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:21:23.93,0:21:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in an adaptive way,\Nin a way that's fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:26.08,0:21:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's interesting about this video game -\Nit was designed to be played in our lab
Dialogue: 0,0:21:30.72,0:21:34.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while recording brain activity\Nand seeing what's going on in our brain
Dialogue: 0,0:21:34.25,0:21:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while you interact with\Nall this hype of interference.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:37.04,0:21:40.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have a study going on now\Nwith healthy older adults,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:40.38,0:21:42.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they take home a laptop,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:42.12,0:21:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they play this game at home,\Nand while they play it,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:44.76,0:21:47.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their behavioral performance data \Ndownloads to their computer
Dialogue: 0,0:21:47.70,0:21:49.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and straight from Dropbox\Nright into our lab,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:49.90,0:21:52.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost in real time,\Nwe can get their brain data,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:52.22,0:21:53.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their behavioral data,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:53.45,0:21:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while they are playing at home.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:54.96,0:21:58.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then they come into the lab and we look\Nwhat's changed in their brain
Dialogue: 0,0:21:58.25,0:22:00.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to enable them to function\Nat a higher level,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:00.39,0:22:01.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is what we're seeing -
Dialogue: 0,0:22:01.77,0:22:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brains are capable of plasticity.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:03.37,0:22:07.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're now looking at wireless\NEEG bluetooth headsets
Dialogue: 0,0:22:07.09,0:22:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that allow us to have our\Nolder participants put these on at home
Dialogue: 0,0:22:10.87,0:22:12.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and record their brain activity,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:12.50,0:22:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we could move our lab outside\Nof our laboratory into people's homes
Dialogue: 0,0:22:16.24,0:22:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and record what are\Nthe changes in the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:22:18.28,0:22:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that lead to this higher\Nability with practice.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:20.50,0:22:22.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they can come back into the lab,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:22.51,0:22:25.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we can use fMRI\Nto look at these changes in networks.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:25.20,0:22:27.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's an exciting time\Nwhere we're learning more
Dialogue: 0,0:22:27.76,0:22:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how our brains can adapt to this.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:29.66,0:22:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So with that, I want to thank you\Nfor your attention
Dialogue: 0,0:22:32.10,0:22:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, of course, your lack\Nof attention to other things.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:34.82,0:22:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)