Final answer:
Multitasking can be detrimental to learning due to brain overload, interference with information retrieval, and increased stress and anxiety, which can impact memory and learning processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are multiple reasons why multitasking might not be effective when learning new information. When we try to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, our brain can become overloaded, which may impair its ability to encode and store new information properly. This overload can lead to ineffective learning as the new information might not be organized or applied efficiently, leading to problems with long-term memory retention.
Focusing on too many things at once can also lead to interference, which occurs when one stream of information collides with, and hampers, the processing of another. The two main types of interference are proactive interference and retroactive interference. Proactive interference is when old information prevents the recall of newer learning, while retroactive interference is when new information causes difficulty in recalling older information.
Lastly, the attempt to multitask, especially with complex or novel tasks, can lead to increased stress and anxiety. These mental states can negatively impact the efficacy of cognitive processes like memory and learning, suggesting the importance of focused attention and minimizing distractions for optimal learning performance.