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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, 202 pages
Published
October 1st 2008
by Oxford University Press, USA
(first published January 1st 2008)
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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 researcher Dr....more
You needn't be a neuroscientist to recognize that there is a difference between working and long-term memory. Here's what Swedish researcher Dr....more
This is a digest of information about the capacity and limits of the human brain. Our brains were designed for an environment where demands of information retrieval and manipulation were much more limited than today. We are using these "stone age brains" to deal with an incredible flood of information.
In 1994, I was struck by the scene in the film version of "Little Women" where Laurie receives the day's communication: his butler delivers a letter on a plate. This was just as I was starting to r...more
In 1994, I was struck by the scene in the film version of "Little Women" where Laurie receives the day's communication: his butler delivers a letter on a plate. This was just as I was starting to r...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 disappointed to f
...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 attention and...more
Dec 04, 2008
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
*When flow becomes overflow*
Regularly (and simultaneously) bombarded by the beeps, alerts, calls, texts, e-mails, and other forms of non-stop e-communication, the limits of our working memory are constantly tested. But, just how much is too much? And is it possible that this all of this information stimulation can actually expand the potential of our brain capacity and functioning, and allow us to achieve a state of "flow"? These questions lie at the core of Klingberg's book. It turns out that t...more
Regularly (and simultaneously) bombarded by the beeps, alerts, calls, texts, e-mails, and other forms of non-stop e-communication, the limits of our working memory are constantly tested. But, just how much is too much? And is it possible that this all of this information stimulation can actually expand the potential of our brain capacity and functioning, and allow us to achieve a state of "flow"? These questions lie at the core of Klingberg's book. It turns out that t...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.
Excellent book on limits of working memory, but from title I expected more information about dealing with large amount of information.
Apr 11, 2011
Victoria
added it
This complex topic is written for the non-scientist.
Kind of dull at the beginning but gets better the last few chapters.
Not as good as .
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.
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/ove...
http://satia.blogspot.com/2008/10/ove...
Liked it. It's remorseless in presenting evidence of the limits of working memory and that we must adapt to it.
You can't multi-task....watch me! I may fail but I'll still try. Gleaned some good tips though.
Jul 08, 2012
bookme4life
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-book,
study
Skimmed sections of it, but found myself unmotivated to read it more consistently than that.
Good introduction to the brain but not a masterpiece by any means.
Good discussion at book club about the brain.
Very informative and interesting.
May 21, 2013
Marchdown
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Catherine
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2013
Sybil
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Miroslav Vulinovic pavez
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Hessa
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Franzi Rëlssør
marked it as to-read
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Jul 26, 2010 06:08pm