Science has proved: the brain’s efficiency increases when it has to solve several problems at once.
Multitasking is a natural state for a healthy brain, concluded neuroscientists from the University of Rochester (USA). (The article published in the NeuroImage journal.)
The researchers discovered that both tasks are solved better in an environment where the brain requires simultaneously directing body movements. For example, while walking and performing complex intellectual tasks.
Scientists conducted a series of experiments involving 22 healthy young people. Participants had to either walk on a “treadmill” or sit and perform increasingly complex tasks on intelligence, switching from one to another. With the help of modern monitoring methods, the researchers monitored:
- the participants’ brain activity
- the movements of their bodies.
It turned out that during walking, participants cope with tasks much better than sitting.
At the same time, the more complex the task, the more significant the difference in results. Moreover, the presence of an intellectual load increases the efficiency of the walking process itself. When the participants’ brains were busy with cognitive tasks, their movements were more precise and confident than in a situation where they focused solely on walking.
The researchers note: the phenomenon reflects a healthy brain’s flexibility where the additional load only benefits. This is most likely why we instinctively go for a walk or start walking around the room when we need to reflect on a problem.
Remote work may place individuals to work during lunchtime or after hours, where being in the office would encourage walking. It is essential to have a balanced lifestyle involving physical activity, like walking, running, lifting, etc. Physically active rest can encourage the brain to process the problem-solving process in the background with more sufficiency, encouraging better problem-solving capabilities.
