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From earliest times, we have always been able to multitask. Technically it’s called continuous partial attention, and involves randomly toggling between tasks deciding which one to do next. For example, we can be driving in the car, listening to music, checking the rearview mirror, talking on a cell phone and thinking about things that you have to do. Now in our increasingly digital world, this stuff happens faster.

I can personally remember as a kid my parents coming into my bedroom and telling me to turn off the radio because I was supposed to be studying. I remember being told by teachers that the best way to study was to isolate myself from the television, the tape player, and the busy sidewalks outside the window. I was told to clear a nice study corner, with a comfy chair, good lighting, and ample workspace.

Contrast that with the ways things are today. Just walk into a Digital Native’s bedroom today. They will be sitting at a computer, doing their homework, watching American Idol, listening to music, burning a CD, searching for something online, while simultaneously managing 14 instant messenger conversations…and they’re still bored. In fact, many students will tell you that doing this all at the same time helps them concentrate.

According to Brain Rules by John Medina, multi-tasking is a myth. According to Medina, multitaskers will take twice as long to accomplish task and they’ll have twice the error rate of single taskers.

Most of us have no idea what's really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know--such as the brain's need for physical activity to work at its best.

How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget--and so important to repeat new information? Is it true that men and women have different brains?

In Brain Rules, molecular biologist Dr. John Medina shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule--what scientists know for sure about how our brains work--and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives.

Medina's fascinating stories and sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You'll learn why Michael Jordan was no good at baseball. You'll peer over a surgeon's shoulder as he finds, to his surprise, that we have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You'll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can't tie his own shoes.

You will discover how:

•Every brain is wired differently

•Exercise improves cognition

•We are designed to never stop learning and exploring

•Memories are volatile

•Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn

•Vision trumps all of the other senses

•Stress changes the way we learn

In the end, you'll understand how your brain really works--and how to get the most out of it. You’ll find an excellent summary, including short video clips from the DVD that comes with the book at the Presentation Zen website.

 

You can also take a look at his Facebook entry and you can order the book and DVD from Amazon.

 

Make sure to look at the hilarious video from YouTube.