Final answer:
The brain has finite attentional resources, and when multitasking, it employs various areas involved in sensory integration, motor function, and cognition, potentially leading to increased stress and errors in decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the brain attempts to process too many bits of information at once, especially during multitasking, it operates within its attentional limits. The multimodal integration area is a region of the cerebral cortex where multiple sensory inputs are processed together. This integration is critical for higher-level functions such as memory, learning, and cognition. The efficiency of multitasking can be impaired due to the divided attention required, potentially leading to fatigue, stress, or anxiety. The brain often relies on automated shortcuts, known as heuristics, to streamline complex tasks.
During multitasking, various brain regions including visual sensory areas, motor areas, and integrating areas are active. An fMRI might show significant activity (as much as 80%) in these areas as the brain engages with different tasks, contrary to the myth that we only use 10% of our brain. The resources required by tasks demanding conscious thought, such as vigilance, signal recognition, mental resource management, and divided attention, can increase energy demands on the brain.
High cognitive load, like that experienced by operators in a study by Bruno & Abrahão (2012), can lead to more errors in decision-making. This is also echoed in the analysis of the massive data breach at Target in 2013, underscoring the importance of attention and its management in the face of complex cognitive tasks.