Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
All these interferences have a common effect: They temporarily steal
parts of the free workspace that could be used by our alertness. By
doing that, these interferences decrease the ability to work effectively
and safely. To clarify this statement, we can compare the functioning of
the brain with the functioning of a computer. If the actual memory of a
computer is occupied by several programs that are running at the same
time, the performance of the computer slows down. When we have a lot
on our mind, the quality of our work also decreases. We talk about an
amount of bits that is available for a task on a computer; in the brain,
we talk about the amount of free cells literally available in the attention
area. Part of our intelligence can be directly related to the amount of
free brain cells in this area. It is one of the reasons why people start to
score lower on IQ tests when they grow older. With increasing age, the
amount of these free cells decreases (Daalmans, 2011).
Apart from being available, these cells also need some time to pick
up the right information. They have to establish a connection with one
of the databases located in many areas of brain. So if we are writing
an article and we decide to answer a phone call, we have to pick up
our ideas before we can start writing again. It takes some time to dis-
connect the cells from the information needed for the phone call and
to connect again to the writing-related information. Usually, it takes a
few minutes to dedicate all cells to the task again.
It takes some time before the free workspace has found all relevant infor-
mation in the archives of our brain.
Summarizing, if we can focus on just one task and keep our internal
and external systems quiet, we can mostly benefit from our brainpower.
Case 1
The day shift operator might have been diverted when he received the
assignment to accompany the mechanics, because he suddenly had to
do a series of unfamiliar tasks like meeting the mechanics, checking
where to go and what to do, checking if the system had been blocked,
reading the assignment, and so on. He might have received too much
information to handle, and in the beginning, was still mentally busy
with his previous task.
