Why do some people seem good at multitasking... and others aren't? Science has a good clue.

Have you ever tried preparing a meal while checking and answering emails and taking notes in your planner? Sound familiar? Many people assume multitasking is a universal skill that applies equally to all situations. But it's not that simple.

Recent research by scientists at the University of Surrey (England) shows that far from being considered a monolithic talent, multitasking may conceal more nuances than imagined: it's not just a global problem-solving ability, but rather combines general skills with specialized strategies specific to each type of task. This helps explain why previous studies have even shown conflicting gender differences in multitasking, often depending on the specific type of task used.

The research involved 224 university students, who were given nine different exercises, grouped into three categories: task switching, parallel execution, and complex scenarios that required prioritizing objectives; these included simultaneous multitasking, such as talking on the phone while driving, which requires attending to two actions at once; task switching, such as answering emails between notifications, which requires quick transitions; and complex multitasking, such as coordinating a fully-functioning kitchen, where prioritizing and flexible planning are key.

By comparing individual performance in each of these scenarios, the researchers found that no single multitasking ability was able to predict performance across all tasks ; that is, some aspects of multitasking, such as speed of task switching, derived from a general mental ability, but concurrent multitasking and complex multitasking involved both this general ability and specific skills unique to those types of multitasking.

"These findings demonstrate that multitasking is not a universal skill. To understand and improve it, we must consider both the broad capabilities that apply to different tasks and the specialized skills required for very specific situations," said Alan Wong, co-author of the paper.

Layered tasks

These results go a long way toward explaining why previous studies have yielded somewhat contradictory results . In fact, the most difficult challenges depend on distinct factors that seem to be associated with each specific context, rather than a universal ability that can be linked to any type of task. This is precisely the perfect explanation for why some people are perfect at multitasking, but when multiple tasks of a different nature overlap, it becomes a difficult challenge to overcome. The conclusion is that performance varies depending on the demands of the tasks themselves.

In our daily lives

Multitasking is part of our daily routine : from answering a text while cooking to browsing social media during a video call. Although it may seem instinctive, each combination of tasks requires a different repertoire of skills. According to the study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance , honing these abilities goes beyond repeating the same activity over and over again: it requires alternating and combining different challenges. This not only sharpens mental flexibility but also fine-tunes the specific skills that each situation demands.

“Training to improve multitasking ability should not focus on a single type of task. Instead, diverse challenges are required to develop both general multitasking ability and the specific skills needed for each situation ,” commented Yetta Kwailing Wong, co-author of the study.

Experts suggest incorporating dynamics in both the workplace and education that require switching from one project to another and handling two tasks simultaneously in order to perfect the specific skills required by each environment.