The overflowing brain
The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory
Sexy title, important topic given we are bombarded with ever more information.
Here is how it works: our working memory (the number of things we can juggle in our head at any one time) is very limited. The amount of working memory we have can be estimated. It is only about seven plus or minus two items.
Working memory determines our ability to solve complex problems. The same brain areas are also used to focus our attention. This makes it hard to focus on two different things at once, or to perform two complicated tasks at once. This is why multi-tasking does not work.
Working memory can be somewhat improved through training. The benefits can be in the form of improved problem solving, or ability to focus. This may help people with ADHD. Drugs that improve performance in ADHD patients also boost performance in normal subjects. This is not too surprising: ADHD is not an all or none disease: just like IQ, we all have different degrees of attention. The potential for abuse of these drugs is worrisome.
An interesting chapter deals with the Flynn effect: IQ scores have been increasing. The increase is about 20 points from 1900 to 1990, and the effect may be increasing. The author proposes that this is due to the increased complexity of our society, and the larger amounts of information we have to process.
Here you have it, in half a page. Read the book if you want to hear who came up with what hypothesis, which ones currently seem to be right, and how this was done.