Why can't I concentrate?
Summary
Host Alex Lathbridge explores the neuroscience of attention with experts Polly Dalton, Salvador Soto-Faraco, and Sophie Leroy. They address listener questions on why concentration feels tiring, the cognitive effects of multitasking, and why cars mute radios when reversing. The episode also features a live experiment testing focus under distraction and discusses whether mental or physical effort causes more fatigue.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and guest introductions
Why tongues stick out during concentration
Inattentional deafness and the gorilla experiment
Why concentrating feels tiring
Multitasking: Gaming while listening to podcasts
Walking while listening and finding focus
Ads break
Why cars mute the radio when reversing
Attention test: Counting sevens with distractions
Do brains shift gears like a bike?
Mental vs physical tiredness and outro
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