When you are driving trying to find a particular address, why is it necessary to turn down the radio ?

Answer 1

omg! lol! I don't know, but I do it every time...I think it helps me concentrate!

Answer 2

Great question!

I have only largely my opinion to offer. However, I believe that with fewer senses used, especially at the same time, one is able to increase the functioning power of sight.

Consider the following if you will. People that are blind often have increased power with their other four sense abilities. Such as an enhancement in hearing and perceiving sounds.

When people that drive vehicles are also talking on their cellphones at the same time - they have less attention that they can put forth into driving safely. In this instance it would seem that multitasking divides up ones ability to concentrate on the task at hand.

On the other hand there have been studies that suggest students that listen to Mozart while studying often have an easier time remembering and recalling the studied materials at a later time.

One last bit of information. We should also consider how there have been some studies that have shown an increase in student performance when more than one of the 5 senses were engaged while learning. [audio & visual, etc.] The link I provided touches upon this comment in more detail.

How about the notion that just by smelling lavender people have experienced a soothing and calming affect on their overall emotion and well being.

Such a great question because there still is so much that we don't know about our 5 senses.

Thanks for this pondering!
Sassafrass Winter Solstice

Answer 3

It is because you are not entirely in control of what you are thinking.

Nobody can just 'turn off' a sense, and most people cannot even stop thinking for any length of time. The conscious part of your brain that you control (mostly) is just one portion and the rest of your brain hums along no matter what you do. It is very easy, then, for these other parts to intrude on your train of thought and interfere with your conscious process.

To a degree, it would be nice if this were not so. I wouldn't object at all to being able to think at 100% efficiency in spite of physical discomfort and ailments, distractions (there probably wouldn't even BE a word 'distraction' if this weren't so), and even other intruding trains of thought.

Instead, we are probably left to make the best of the system we have. The subconscious can be a useful tool at times for catching information you consciously miss, for example. And a certain amount of training in mental focus can do wonders.

Even then, however, you may turn down the radio just because it is no longer necessary. Or perhaps because you want to sensitize your hearing to external events more. You just won't HAVE to.

Answer 4

In reality, you are only telling yourself that it is necessary to turn the radio down. All of your sense organ work independently. Your recognition of hearing is blocked for a moment when a pleasant aroma is detected by your olfactory nerve. The body can function and solve problems regardless of simultaneous stimulation.

Answer 5

So that you can concentrate on the dual task of driving safely and searching without the additional distracting of whatever is coming out of your radio.

Answer 6

I guess is to free your short term memory storage for the street information. Your brain automatically tune in to the words you hear from the radio (or anything else) and keep you from performing other word related action.
To avoid this problems, ambient music for offices has no lyrics.

Answer 7

I felt like you had seen me driving before! I am glad I am not the only one that does it. I guess it's to concentrate and pay attention better

Answer 8

Funny, I do this! Concentration?

Answer 9

Dunno. Maybe you are listening for God to help you find it.