On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done

by David Badre

Overview

A look at the extraordinary ways the brain turns thoughts into actions—and how this shapes our everyday lives

Why is it hard to text and drive at the same time? How do you resist eating that extra piece of cake? Why does staring at a tax form feel mentally exhausting? Why can your child expertly fix the computer and yet still forget to put on a coat? From making a cup of coffee to buying a house to changing the world around them, humans are uniquely able to execute necessary actions. How do we do it? Or in other words, how do our brains get things done? In On Task, cognitive neuroscientist David Badre presents the first authoritative introduction to the neuroscience of cognitive control—the remarkable ways that our brains devise sophisticated actions to achieve our goals. We barely notice this routine part of our lives. Yet, cognitive control, also known as executive function, is an astonishing phenomenon that has a profound impact on our well-being.

Drawing on cutting-edge research, vivid clinical case studies, and examples from daily life, Badre sheds light on the evolution and inner workings of cognitive control. He examines issues from multitasking and willpower to habitual errors and bad decision making, as well as what happens as our brains develop in childhood and change as we age—and what happens when cognitive control breaks down. Ultimately, Badre shows that cognitive control affects just about everything we do.

A revelatory look at how billions of neurons collectively translate abstract ideas into concrete plans, On Task offers an eye-opening investigation into the brain’s critical role in human behavior.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691234700
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	02/22/2022
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	442,969
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David Badre is professor of cognitive, linguistic, and psychological sciences at Brown University, where he is also on the faculty of the Carney Institute for Brain Science. He and his lab have made pioneering contributions to the neuroscience of cognitive control and executive function. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island. Twitter @BadreLab

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 What Lies in the Gap between Knowledge and Action? 1

Chapter 2 The Origins of Human Cognitive Control 32

Chapter 3 The Stability-Flexibility Dilemma 66

Chapter 4 Hierarchies in the Head 98

Chapter 5 The Tao of Multitasking 130

Chapter 6 Stopping 157

Chapter 7 The Costs and Benefits of Control 186

Chapter 8 The Information Retrieval Problem 221

Chapter 9 Cognitive Control over Lifespan 251

Chapter 10 Postscript: Getting Things Done That Matter 293

Notes 301

Index 323

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Getting things done is essential to success in life. On Task provides a highly entertaining and informative look into how the brain accomplishes this crucial feat. Expertly combining startling observations of patients with neurological disorders, breakthrough findings from cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques, and insightful accounts of everyday actions, David Badre paints a compelling picture of the nature and origins of cognitive control."—Daniel L. Schacter, Harvard University and author of The Seven Sins of Memory

"Nobody has thought harder about how the brain gets things done than David Badre. In On Task, he moves from early studies of brain damage to modern neuroscience, from childhood to old age, and from human evolution and genetics to the demands of today’s electronic world. This authoritative, sweeping, and marvelously accessible book is a great introduction to the questions, insights, and puzzles of modern scientific thinking."—John Duncan, author of How Intelligence Happens

"In this engaging and authoritative book, David Badre introduces a critical but unfamiliar aspect of cognitive psychology, affording readers a new perspective on human decision making and behavior."—Matthew Botvinick, Google DeepMind and University College London

"This highly inspiring and masterful book provides historical and contemporary insights into the most fascinating of brain functions. With a welcoming narrative style, On Task is key reading not only for those of us interested in how we master our animal base, but for anyone curious about the generative wonders and responsibilities that come with natural intelligence."—Roshan Cools, Radboud University

Editorial Reviews

Finalist for the PROSE Award in Popular Science and Mathematics, Association of American Publishers

From the Publisher