New research studies provide proof that: multitasking is a myth, playing video games is not so bad for you and forgetting things is possibly due to the inability to tune out distractions.

Finally! There is a scientific research to prove your grandmother’s wisdom “Finish one thing, and then do the next. But do them both well.” The experiments of David Strayer, a cognitive psychologist, have shown that our brains do not two things at once (let alone three); instead we rapidly switch from one task to another. It puts a heavy burden on attention, memory, and focus. The very concept of multitasking is a myth. This type of research has already led to stricter driving laws. In my opinion, it can also lead to a different approach to parenting and education. In a modern world, children since very early age learn to multitask: eat while watching TV, study while listening to the music, etc. They often overload their brains. The rise of ADD and other attention deficit disorders in recent years may possibly be caused by that.
So, most of us can’t multitask. However, the scientist found 2% of people he studied have exceptional abilities. Using brain imaging, Strayer has discovered that their brains are especially efficient; one neural network involved in attention has less activity than an ordinary person’s would. It’s suggested by another researcher Adam Gazzaley, a neurologist at UCSF, that these people have exceptional cognitive control. They don’t let their brain get flooded by stimuli; they selectively let them in by regulating attention. So, the better you are at ignoring distractions, he found, the better your ability is to keep track of information and perform tasks effort-free.
One of Gazzaley’s experiments using brain imaging had shown that younger people were better at ignoring visual distractions. His findings put a new spin on explaining causes of memory lapses