Are you listening to me? Well, kinda… Research shows people can track more than one conversation at once
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have found that the human brain can briefly track two conversations simultaneously. This challenges the traditional belief that attention is strictly limited to one speaker at a time.
Why it matters
Understanding how the brain processes multiple streams of information provides insights into human cognitive flexibility and social navigation.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source The experimetnal setup, showing a subject with brain signal cap, listening to more than one conversation at once. Credit: Prof. Alejandro López Valdés. Ever wondered how some people seem able to keep up with the conversation they're having while also noticing what's being said across the room? New research suggests this ability isn't simply good hearing but may reflect the brain's remarkable capacity to briefly process more than one conversation at once.
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