Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

56
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
56
Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

7.1K
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
7.1K
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

18.6K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
18.6K
The Influence of Cognition on Affect01:29

The Influence of Cognition on Affect

49
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
49
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory01:20

Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory

784
Cognitive psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed the cognitive-mediational theory of emotions, which emphasizes how individuals' assessments of stressors significantly affect their experience of stress. According to Lazarus, the stress response is determined by a two-step appraisal process: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. These cognitive appraisals help individuals evaluate the potential impact of a stressor and determine the adequacy of their coping resources.
Primary Appraisal:...
784
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

466
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
466

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Author Correction: Cerebellar aging is spatially heterogeneous and supports cognitive resilience in later life.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Cerebellar aging is spatially heterogeneous and supports cognitive resilience in later life.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Curriculum Learning in Humans and Neural Networks.

Open mind : discoveries in cognitive science·2026
Same author

A Multiple-Well Framework for Human Perceptual Decision-Making.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

AI-Enhanced Semantic Feature Norms for 786 Concepts.

Topics in cognitive science·2025
Same author

Learning expectations shape cognitive control allocation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same journal

Misinformation as strategy: Epistemic consequences and the undermining of shared truth.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Geographical psychology: Spatial variation in psychological phenomena and their consequences.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Multi-brain neurofeedback: what are we training for?

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

The developing vocal self.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Searching beyond decrements: Attentional guidance across the adult lifespan.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Looking into working memory through micro eye movements.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.9K

Rationalizing constraints on the capacity for cognitive control.

Sebastian Musslick1, Jonathan D Cohen2

  • 1Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|August 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human cognitive control is limited in multitasking and focus intensity. These constraints may stem from rational adaptations to computational challenges in neural systems, balancing learning with efficiency and stability with flexibility.

Keywords:
information processing limitationsmultitaskingtask switchingvisual attentionworking memory

More Related Videos

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
09:26

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

19.1K
Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
12:12

Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm

Published on: May 14, 2014

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 26, 2025

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.9K
Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
09:26

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

19.1K
Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
12:12

Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm

Published on: May 14, 2014

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Computational Psychology
  • Machine Learning

Background:

  • Human cognition exhibits inherent limitations in simultaneous task execution and single-task focus intensity.
  • These limitations are widely accepted but lack a clear underlying rationale in cognitive theories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the computational basis of cognitive control limitations.
  • To propose that these constraints are rational adaptations to neural architecture dilemmas.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review integrating findings from psychology, neuroscience, and machine learning.
  • Analysis of trade-offs within neural computational processes.

Main Results:

  • Multitasking limitations may arise from a trade-off between learning efficacy and processing efficiency.
  • Single-task focus limitations may reflect a balance between cognitive stability and flexibility.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive control constraints are likely rational adaptations to fundamental computational challenges.
  • Understanding these trade-offs offers insight into the architecture of human cognition.