Transcription
Welcome to the fourth video in this Neuroscience training. Today, we're going to study attention.
The word attention comes from the Latin attentio, which means the action of reaching one's mind towards. Attention can be defined as the ability to focus on a subject, an action, or a concrete thought over a period of time. Indeed, the transitory nature of attention is a necessity rather than a problem. Three parts of the brain manage this process: the thalamus, the posterior cortical areas, and the prefrontal areas.
Attention is more important than it seems. We cannot memorize or learn without paying attention to what surrounds us. In this sense, it is essential for survival. Our attention span increases until adulthood and then decreases in old age. The wider the field of action on which attention is focused, the weaker the attention.
Attention is also selective and restrictive. You can focus on a specific target or a global ensemble, but not both at the same time. The maximum attention span is 45 minutes. Beyond that, the brain needs to take a break, but this duration depends on how interested you are. If an activity is strenuous or boring to you, you will get tired more quickly.
Be careful not to confuse attention with concentration. Attention opens up to the environment by optimizing the perception of information, while concentration isolates external stimuli to focus all your resources on a specific task. Concentration is, therefore, an intensified form of sustained attention.
Attention rests on two pillars: a deliberate choice where attention is desired and represents the sum of previous experiences. For example, a doctor and a military person will have a different perception of the same environment. An imperative selection because it is necessary to sort through the mass of information that the brain constantly receives.
Let's take a closer look at selective attention. It is the ability to establish a list of priorities, either unconsciously or deliberately. This state of selective attention is difficult for hyperactive people to achieve, as their attention is disturbed by various visual and/or auditory stimulations, and they may need to isolate themselves in order to concentrate.
There are two main models of selective attention: early and late. In early selective memory models, attention is kind of filtered, like in a crowd where you can't make out all the details. Conversely, attention can also be focused on a specific object, such as a detail in the same crowd.
In late selective memory models, we identify the following: divided attention, which is the ability to focus one's attention on several targets and which is only possible with simple tasks, such as sharpening a pencil while watching television; sustained attention, which is the ability to focus for a long time on a single complex task; joint attention, which involves several people; alert attention, which is divided into two subgroups: tonic alertness, where attention is gradually drawn to the environment, as when waking up; phasic alertness, where attention is suddenly drawn to an event, such as external noise.
The development of attention begins in early childhood. Research conducted on infants' gazes offers proof of this. According to the Swiss biologist and psychologist Jean Piaget, the cognitive evolution of all living beings is based on two complimentary pillars: adaptation, where the individual forcibly adapts to his or her environment, and assimilation, where the individual adapts his or her environment to his or her needs.
Cognitive development, including the development of attention, takes place in parallel with the maturation of the brain from 0 to 16 years of age. The child expands his or her attention more and more to arrive at a state where he or she analyzes and reflects on his or her observations. But cognitive development is not complete until the age of 24. It is a slow process, with each brain area moving at its own pace, which is itself unique to each person, depending on their environment.
Attention disorders have various causes, such as age, pathologies, or lesions. They fall into two categories: primary disorders, which, like ADHD, are neurodevelopmental, and secondary disorders, which are affective and often related to stress and anxiety. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) differs from ADD (attention deficit disorder) in terms of the person's behavior. In the first case, the person is agitated and can even be aggressive and tyrannical. A person with ADHD can create social ties but has difficulty maintaining them. In the case of ADD, the person is shy, withdrawn, and has difficulty creating social bonds.
Many tests are available to assess attention. You will find some of them, which are rather fun, in your PDF course material. It is possible to improve your attention span. The technique should be chosen according to the person's age and physiological and psychological states. We can think of games such as board games, puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, but also computer and phone games, as well as maze games that are interesting because of the strategic and instinctive faculties they develop. Puzzles and mandalas are other fun ways to work on attention span.
Another method is visual haptic training, which can be done alone or with others. This game consists of recognizing objects of various shapes without using sight, just by touching them directly or through a bag. For people with cognitive pathologies, attention can be stimulated through hearing, for example, by having them listen to a recording or by setting very progressive goals in individual or group sessions.
Finally, just like memorization and learning, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain an optimal attention span. Attention isn't just essential for memorization and learning; it is also vital for another stage of human development: language acquisition. This will be the subject of our next video. See you soon.