According to the findings in the study, what is the nature of the mental effort involved in doodling?

• A. It requires focused attention
• B. It involves high cognitive competition
• C. It facilitates multitasking
• D. It enhances memory retention

Answer: (C)

The findings in Andrade's study indicate that doodling is an activity that can facilitate multitasking. This means that while an individual is engaged in a primary task, such as listening to a lecture or a conference call, doodling allows the brain to manage the secondary task of processing information simultaneously. Instead of being a distraction, doodling provides a form of engagement that helps people maintain focus on the more demanding aspects of mental work.

In contrast to the other options, doodling does not require highly focused attention on its own; instead, it serves as a low-demand activity that complements the primary cognitive tasks. The concept of high cognitive competition is also not applicable since doodling is typically an easier task that does not compete for the same cognitive resources required by more complex tasks. Lastly, the idea of enhancing memory retention is misleading in this context, as the primary benefit of doodling highlighted in the study is related to maintaining attention rather than improving memory directly.