•	As a cognitive mechanism, the visual working memory maintains a small amount of visual information as a temporary storage buffer that can be accessed efficiently to achieve goals.

•	Researchers have found that working memory is a more effective predictor of multitasking skills than cognitive abilities, personality traits, or experience.


Working memory theories

People's attention refers to how they actively process information in their surroundings. By selectively attending to a stimulus, attention enhances the processing of that stimulus and decreases the processing of unattended stimuli.

Theories of attention

•	Theories of attention

•	Working memory theories

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

When learners are multitasking, their limited means of processing information, especially attention processes, are rapidly used, leaving insufficient learning space.

Cognitive functioning while multitasking

May, K.E., Elder, A.D. Efficient, helpful, or distracting? A literature review of media multitasking in relation to academic performance. Int J Educ Technol High Educ 15, 13 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-018-0096-z


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