Which cognitive process is most directly affected by chronic multitasking?

Chronic multitasking most directly affects attentional control, which is the cognitive process responsible for managing and directing attention to relevant information while filtering out distractions. Attentional control allows individuals to selectively focus on a specific task or stimulus, switch between tasks efficiently, and inhibit irrelevant information that could interfere with performance. When individuals chronically engage in multitasking, their ability to effectively manage attention is impaired. This results in reduced ability to focus, increased susceptibility to distractions, and difficulty switching between tasks without performance costs. The constant switching between tasks leads to cognitive overload and depletes attentional resources. Studies have shown that chronic multitaskers exhibit poorer performance on tasks requiring sustained attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility compared to individuals who rarely multitask. This decline in attentional control is a significant consequence of the cognitive demands imposed by frequent task switching.