A person can become temporarily deaf to environmental sounds when engaged in a visual task, according to new research.

The very small study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience and led by a group of experts at the University College of London, call this deficit “inattentional deafness,” the Telegraph reports. According to the researchers, a person’s sense of vision and hearing are located in a shared region of the brain. Due to a limitation in processing capacity, the brain fails to multi-task and is forced to choose between the two senses.

“For example, if you try to talk to someone who is focusing on a book, game or television programme and don’t receive a response, they aren’t necessarily ignoring you, they might simply not hear you” Professor Nilli Lavie, who co-authored the study, told the Telegraph.

She says that ‘inattentional deafness’ can be dangerous for drivers and cyclists following complex directions. “This has more serious implications in situations such as the operating theatre, where a surgeon concentrating on their work might not hear the equipment beeping” added Lavie.

Get our Health Newsletter. Sign up to receive the latest health and science news, plus answers to wellness questions and expert tips. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Now Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.

Contact us at letters@time.com.