In a recent interview 2 scientists were discussing the extent and capability of the the human brain. The first had just completed a study of multi-tasking while the second discussed the scope of brain function.

Regarding multi-tasking the interviewed expert expressed how, while our society requires a higher degree of multi-tasking than ever before, humans were not adapting to this need. In fact, their performance of tasks practiced during multi-tasking deteriorated, even when asked to complete the task without distraction.

The second expert agreed that we are, at times, expecting too much from our brains for peak performance, stating that there is a threshold at which our brains function. He stated that if we were asked to square 324 it would take the full capacity for most people to accurately solve the equation. Of course, we all find some things harder than others but he was basically saying that the brain only has a limited amount of brain power it can push out just as house wiring can only take a certain amount of electricity. Different tasks will obviously tax different brains, different amounts but there is a limit.

• Have you noticed how mentally exhausted some candidates get after attending interviews or other tasks that are new to them?
• I wonder how many times clients have shut down simply cause it seemed there was too much to be done?
• How many times have I expected too much from a candidate simply because it was a task I could do easily (either through more practice or natural skill) and thus expected it to be an easy task for them as well?

Photo by Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier