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The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory
As the pace of technological change accelerates, we are increasingly experiencing a state of information overload. Statistics show that we are interrupted every three minutes during the course of the work day. Multitasking between email, cell-phone, text messages, and four or five websites while listening to an iPod forces the brain to process more and more informaton at g...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
October 28th 2008
by Oxford University Press, USA
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The classic menopause moment, of course, is when you hurry with great purpose into another room only to find that you're clueless once there. If you're a mother, it's a mommy moment. Fair-haired? A blond moment. On beyond menopause? A senior moment. All these short-term lapses represent a sudden and unexpected blackout in working memory. Let me explain.
You needn't be a neuroscientist to recognize that there is a difference between working and long-term memory. Here's what Swedish res...more
You needn't be a neuroscientist to recognize that there is a difference between working and long-term memory. Here's what Swedish res...more
In his book The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory, Dr. Klingberg discusses what working memory is and how it is highly correlated with attention control, IQ, general intelligence, and problem solving ability. He goes on to explain how this topic relates to ADHD and the treatment of this disorder.
I have a B.S. in Psychology that is several years old, so I had high hopes of updating my knowledge about attention and working memory. But, I was disappoin
...more
A disappointment. I did learn some things about working memory and how its deficits are linked to a wide range of behavior, from ADHD to dementia. But a lot of the book was commentary and speculation on information about memory that has been covered in the popular press. I guess I was hoping for more than "It is up to us to control our environments and reshape the work we do to our abilities." We know that. But how, when our work and the world keep making increasing demands on our...more
Tara
marked it as to-read
I've been thinking about this concept of brain overload as a result of exponential advancements in technology for awhile now and wanting to explore the subject more in-depth. As a reporter, I definitely feel overwhelmed at times and burdened by the seeming obligation to keep up and be knowlegeable in nearly every facet of life. But having such expectations are unrealistic for anyone, really, and one can easily feel ineffective when their energies are spread too thin. Sometimes it's just too much...more
Thought it was a quite interesting book, suited for readers looking for a short, introductory piece of the brain in general and working memory/intelligence in particular. For me, with no prior knowledge on the topic, it worked just fine and gave som insights on the topic of neuroscience. Some interesting exemples, which the author explains in an understandable way. All in all - an okay+ read for me as a beginner. 3/5
I was a little disappointed with this book. I had hoped for much more information from this undoubted expert on how the brain and memory works, but beyond telling us that you can only hold about 7 ideas in your working (or current) memory at one time, and that can be increased with practice, the author had little to say. This was not the deep explication of the brain I had hoped for.
Great use of current studies to more richly illustrate theories; especially like the comparisons with ADHD children, effects of video games, as well as workforce studies. Good flow and dividing of chapters. Nice ending chapters on cognitive improvement techniques.
This is a hopeful and insightful synopsis of much current research about working memory, written at a level comprehensible by the lay reader. Because the author works primarily with children, it is largely centered around ADD, ADHD, and IQ development.
Victoria Zadeh
added it
This complex topic is written for the non-scientist.
A refreshing, research based approach to describing the oft reported concerns over what "the Internet and attention to all those mobile devices is doing to our brains." Because it is research based (but very well written and not heavy in academic style), nothing is black or white: multitasking, for example, is not all bad. If you're interested in what our modern, information soaked culture may be doing to our brains, this is an excellent place to start.
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I entered this book already knowing the capacity and limitations of working memory and was disappointed regarding the presentation of few new findings. And the sections on training to improve attention and short term memory didn't fulfill my need to uncover specific programs that can help adolescents and adults with working memory deficits. So, I'm still searching...
I read about half of this one. Whenever I read it, I found it fascinating, but I could only read it for about half an hour at a time and my brain would start to overflow. Ha.
Technically, I would give this a 3.5 stars. For my full review:
http://satia.blogspot.com/2008/10/overfl...
http://satia.blogspot.com/2008/10/overfl...
You can't multi-task....watch me! I may fail but I'll still try. Gleaned some good tips though.
Good discussion at book club about the brain.
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