Digital distractions and our ancient brains

Listen 00:49:30

Guests: Adam Gazzaley, Larry Rosen

The average person checks their phone almost 50 times a day. We do it while we’re talking with a friend, at work, and even while driving. We like to believe we can multi-task — that we can follow the conversation or the road while reading a quick text or checking a Facebook update but research proves we can’t. In their new book The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, ADAM GAZZALEY and LARRY ROSEN —a neuroscientist and a psychologist—explain why our brains aren’t equipped to do two things at once, Gazzaley and Rosen join us to talk about their findings and to offer advice on better ways to live with our modern technology.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal