Earlier, we , what research supports the popular advice on how to "learn to learn." discussed metacognitive processes and the usefulness of "doodles in the margins."
In the third part — shared how By the way, regarding memory — we talked separately and , also delved into how to».
Today — we'll discuss concentration, "multitasking," and enhancing attention..
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Attention is the "nerve of any psychological system."
General psychology defines attention as the ability of a person to focus at a certain moment on an object: an item, event, image, or reasoning. Attention can be voluntary — depending on conscious interest, or involuntary or instinctive (you'll notice a conditional clap of thunder regardless of your desire). Need is another important factor affecting attention: for example, a hungry person strolling through the city will gaze at restaurants and cafes more often than a satisfied one.
The key characteristics of attention are its selectivity and capacity. At an event, a person initially hears only a general noise of voices. However, if a friend suddenly starts speaking nearby, the attention of both individuals will shift to their voices and conversation. This phenomenon, known as the "cocktail party effect," was experimentally studied by Edward Colin Cherry from Imperial College London in 1953.
The capacity of attention can be expressed in the number of items a person can concentrate on at a given moment. For adults, this is about four to five, at most six unrelated objects: for instance, letters or numbers. This doesn't mean we can perceive only a few words in the text simultaneously — they can also be meaningful segments of material. But their number should not exceed six.
And finally, attention is characterized by its ability to switch from one task to another (distraction, in this sense, is the insufficient ability to do this effectively) and its stability — the capability to maintain concentration over a period of time. This property depends on the characteristics of the material being studied and the individual themselves.
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Focus on attention is one of the conditions for successful work and study. Charles Darwin in his autobiography "Memories of the Development of My Mind and Character," stated that not only "the habit of energetic work but also attention to any task I was engaged in" helped him in his work. And Anglo-American psychologist Edward Bradford Titchener wrote in his book "Lectures on Experimental Psychology of Sensation and Attention" (1908) his "nerve of any psychological system."
The ability to concentrate positively affects academic performance. This is confirmed by from MIT that was conducted in Boston. They speak of attention as a "form of mental activity that must be maintained."
Multitasking is a myth
Popular publications claim that one can supposedly increase work efficiency and improve attention by training multitasking. However, according to research, multitasking is a skill that, firstly, cannot be developed, and secondly, is completely unnecessary.
According to Neuropsychologist and professor at the University of Utah David Strayer states that multitasking is a unique trait: only about 2.5% of people possess it. It is genetically determined, and trying to develop it is a waste of time. "We fool ourselves and tend to overestimate our multitasking abilities," the scientist.
Experiments at Stanford University showed that participants placed in conditions of solving multiple tasks simultaneously performed worse on assignments. At first glance, multitasking may seem effective, but ultimately this approach takes up to 40% more time, and the results are full of errors, in the American Psychological Association.
How to Improve Concentration
One can become more attentive. For example, there are , which indicate that various meditation techniques — both traditional Eastern and modern practices popular in the USA and Europe — not only help reduce stress and develop self-regulation but also significantly improve the ability to concentrate.
However, not everyone wants to meditate. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Tom Wujec from Singularity University, a few simple exercises. Sitting on the subway or standing in a parking lot? The best way to kill time while simultaneously training your attention is to focus for five minutes on an advertisement or a bumper sticker on the car in front of you, thinking of nothing else. Reading a complex book and feel distracted? Remember the fragment where you got lost and reread it.
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Indeed, even without Tom Wydjek's advice, we do this, but he claims it works excellently. Sitting in a boring lecture or conference? Sit as uncomfortably as possible. You’ll be forced to pay attention, Wydjek insists. Educational resource Mission.org to read regular printed books daily, which will teach you to concentrate on a single task for long enough and meditate. However, we feel that advice like this is overly obvious.
Improving Attention 'Scientifically'
Scientists' opinion seems paradoxical: to be more attentive, you don’t need to develop this ability through special exercises or force yourself hard but simply give your brain a rest.Researchers believe that a person loses the ability to concentrate not because they can’t or don’t want to. Procrastination is not a malfunction, but a key characteristic of the nervous system that helps our brain function normally: focused attention (controlled by the frontal lobe of the brain) requires a lot of energy, so by getting distracted, we allow our brain to rest.
Paul Seli, a psychologist from Harvard University, describes it as such, referring to procrastination as 'mind wandering.' He argues that one should rest wisely, citing a study, in the journal NeuroImage. It’s important not just to 'dream' but to use your break time to solve a simple life problem that doesn’t require much intellectual effort. After that, you can return to studying and focus once more.
Paul Seli's advice aligns with , obtained back in 1993: the brain can work intensely for no more than 90 minutes. To recover, a 15-minute break is necessary.
A later study from the University of Illinois the benefits of very short breaks — just a few seconds — with the same goal. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, it was found that physical exercises improve material perception, while caffeine enhances memory and attention. At the Australian National University, an experiment was conducted with 124 students and that funny YouTube videos help to relax and recover, allowing for more effective concentration later on.
TL;DR
- The effectiveness of multitasking is a myth. Remember that truly 'multitasking' people account for only 2.5%. This ability is genetically determined and it's nearly impossible to develop it. For the rest, multitasking is a waste of time and leads to mistakes at work.
- You might enjoy meditating: it's really a good way to learn how to maintain focus. However, you'll need to practice meditation consistently.
- If you're struggling to concentrate — don't torture your brain. It needs to rest. Take breaks, but use them wisely: light physical exercises, a cup of coffee, or solving simple everyday problems can help you return to studying and refocus effectively.
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Source: habr.com
