It took Laura a second to shift mental gears and turn her attention to the information on the screen.

It took me an effort to shift mental gears.

Bob and Pete knew the gesture meant he was throwing his mental gears into high.

The question was asked in the same tone as the threat, and it took Rod a moment to shift mental gears.

I tried to shift mental gears, to keep up with the change in subject.

Mike, of course, shifted mental gears in something under a second.

I had to change mental gears at the unexpected opening.

He studied me, and I could see his mental gears engage.

He now, as was his custom, abruptly shifted mental gears.

I could almost hear that machine, 90,000 miles away, grinding its mental gears, adding this new bit of data.