Government Executive - Authors - Katie Golde

The Science Behind Selective Hearing

Katie Golde, Greatist.com — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:03:00 -0400

Greatist is the fastest-growing fitness, health and happiness media start-up. Check out more wellness news at Greatist.com.

Crowded lecture halls, work conferences, packed house parties — put a bunch of people in a room and it can get pretty noisy, with multiple conversations going on all at once. Yet somehow, most of us are able to tune out the masses (or simply the TV) and tune in to our personal discussions. How do we do it? Recent research suggests that selective hearing is, in fact, a real thing. We break down what’s going on in our brains when we decide what we want to hear.

Listen Close - What's the Deal?

Not only do our brains decide which conversations we want to tune into; they also give us the capacity to focus on said conversations to the exclusion of other, simultaneous discussions competing for our attention.

Our ability to select what we hear (in the most literal sense) was coined the “cocktail party effect” by British scientist Colin Cherry in the1950s. The term has gained public traction in the past few years thanks to ongoing research. One of the most notable studies was conducted in 2010, when researchers at the University of California, San Francisco used an advanced decoding algorithm to learn that participants' brains were able to target one speaker another, simultaneous speaker.

Amazingly enough, the researchers were even able to determine the specific words a given participant was listening to by analyzing patterns in their brain activity. Based on these assessments, the researchers determined that our brains are designed to prioritize some auditory cues over others — say, that piece of juicy gossip or the football score over the request to fold the laundry. (Let’s admit it: We’ve all been there!)

So what makes some things stick while others (like a request to pick up the milk or take the dog out) float through one ear and out the other? According to one study, how or what we choose to listen to (over other sounds) is dependent on background noise and stimuli as well as behavioral goals — in other words, how important the conversation is to you relative to other things that are going on. Call this the “Homer Simpson Effect,” says Greatist Expert Paul Zak. “Some people don’t seem to listen well to others unless they view the other person or what they are saying as very important.” Greatist Expert Michael Mantell concurs. “If my goal is to watch the end of a baseball game, a competing goal [such as folding the laundry] is not likely to draw my attention.”

Visual cues are also important. One study found these cues are often given before auditory signals and may aid in our perception and understanding of speech. These visual cues may serve a predictive role, so if you catch the eye of the guy or girl across the bar and they smile, you might just get the nerve to go over and start a conversation.

The Hear and Now - Why It Matters

Thanks to advancements in technology and brain research, we can say with scientific certainty that selective hearing does exist. The reason, says Zak, is that our attention is an expensive resource in the brain — so we choose to focus only on what we deem most important. This also means we can’t multitask (text message, email, etc.) and truly listen to a conversation at the same time.

So perhaps what good listening comes down to is clarifying for ourselves what is really most important: Is it making it to the next level on Wii Fit, or is it cultivating a relationship in which our partner (or roommate) feels heard, respected, and valued? If we choose to prioritize the latter, maybe next time we’ll be able to focus more on a partner's request to wash the dishes and less on the screen in front of us.

Whatever your priorities, this research can do more than give us leverage when calling out the significant other for forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning. Recent findings will also contribute to future work on aging, attention deficit disorder, and understanding the brains of people on the autism spectrum. The decoding algorithm used by the researchers at UC-San Francisco, specifically, may help scientists understand what is being heard by people who are paralyzed or unable to communicate.

Recognizing the way our brains’ speech systems operate is also of utmost importance to consumer technology companies who develop voice-activated products. Who knows what cool electronics will come from this research — Siri 2.0, anyone?

Do you believe that selective hearing is real? Do you choose to listen “selectively” sometimes? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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Image via Andrea Danti/Shutterstock.com

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Your Telework How-To: 10 Essentials For Getting Stuff Done at Home

Katie Golde, Greatist.com — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:25:00 -0400

Greatist is the fastest-growing fitness, health and happiness media start-up. Check out more wellness news at Greatist.com.

Imagine waking up five minutes to 9 a.m., still in PJs with eyes barely open, grabbing that steaming cup of homemade coffee, and settling down in a comfy office chair to work. There’s evidence such a scenario is becoming more common: One study estimates 45 percent of America’s workforce has a job suitable for part-time or full-time teleworking. And research suggests employees who spend time working outside the office are more satisfied with their jobs and even argue less with family members. But working outside the office isn’t always easy – it means learning how to manage time and prioritize, regardless of what those bunny slippers are saying.

Homeward Bound - The Need-to-Know

Around a third of the American workforce teleworks; as of 2011, somewhere between 34 and 44 million Americans (the exact number varies between studies) worked outside the office at least occasionally. And the number of companies that allow employees to work from Starbucks or their friend’s couch has increased at least 25 percent over the last few years. Today’s teleworkers have such diverse jobs as public relations specialists, graphic designers, and nurses who give patients advice over the phone.

The potential benefits of working outside the office range from less time on a sweaty subway to more motivation to get stuff done. For one thing, a 2.4-second trip from the kitchen to the living-room workstation can save people time, energy, and money on commuting to the office. In some cases, teleworking can also increase employees’ job satisfaction, improve work performance, and reduce stress. That’s possibly because teleworkers feel more independent, free to take a break and look at images of cute puppies whenever. And one study found teleworkers experienced less conflict with family members the more time they spent working from home. (No more having to sneak to the stairwell to answer calls from that special someone.)

Perhaps surprisingly, working outside the office may also increase productivity. The boss can’t check to make sure teleworkers are actually working, and not just playing Words With Friends, so employees might try to prove themselves by submitting a finished project at the end of the day. But not everyone is ready to jump out of the desk chair and onto the couch.

Cabin Fever - Your Action Plan

Maybe the grass is always greener on the other side of the cubicle. Even part-time teleworking can cause tension between coworkers: One study found in-office employees thought they were treated unfairly when other employees got to work from home, while teleworkers felt just the opposite. And working from a house where the laundry machine’s overflowing and dinner’s burning in the oven may also mean family obligations distract us from professional responsibilities.

Before abandoning the office, consider whether teleworking is right for you. It takes strong self-discipline and motivation to produce results on the job when there’s no one else around. Here are some general guidelines to follow when working outside (or inside) the office:

Designate a workspace when staying at home. Use that area for work and only work. (When on the couch, commence reality-TV-watching!)
Set a schedule. Let family and friends know you won’t be able to answer the phone or pick up groceries during work hours.
Keep it professional. It’s hard to take someone seriously when the dog is barking in the background of a conference call – time to put Sparky outside!
Work with a buddy. Having a coworker nearby can make sure you both stay on track.
Switch up your location. If sitting at home, bring the laptop to a café; the new scenery might motivate you to get more done. (Just don’t spill coffee on the computer.)
Check email and social network updates at set times, no matter how distracting that Facebook notification may be.
Take a break! One study suggests frequent short breaks from heavy computer use can actually boost productivity. Stand up and stretch or try a mid-day workout.
Don’t forget to go out and actually interact with people. Working alone all day and night isn’t healthy for anyone, so save time for socializing!
Bring water, but not food, to the work desk. Most of us know from personal experience that it’s easy to get caught up in work and eat an entire bag of Pirate’s Booty. Stick with just the water bottle.
Make sure health is a priority. Don’t use working at home as an excuse to slack on sleep or exercise. Good health is especially important since one study found people suffering from certain health issues tended to be less productive than healthy people.

Do you think it's possible to be productive working from home? Share your tricks with us in the comments below!

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Image via MJTH/Shutterstock.com

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