Focus & Attention

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    Last Updated: May 23, 2023

    Focus and attention refers to the ability to concentrate on a target stimulus, problem, or task for a specific period of time. Focus and attention are important to effectively carry out tasks in everyday life.

    What are focus & attention?

    Focus is the ability to willingly direct and maintain attention on specific stimuli while ignoring others, and it plays a crucial role in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The capacity for focus can fluctuate based on an individual's physical, emotional, and cognitive states and is often influenced by factors like sleep and stress levels.

    How are focus & attention measured?

    Focus and attention are measured using various methods, including the digit span test, reaction time tests, and the Stroop color and word tests. These assessments evaluate aspects such as working memory, cognitive processing speed, and the effect of emotional stimuli on attention.

    How does physical activity affect focus & attention?

    Research indicates that physical activity generally has a positive effect on focus and attention across various age groups, from children to older adults. However, the strength of this association has been questioned, which suggests that more research is needed to confirm a direct causal relationship between exercise and cognitive function in populations without known health conditions.

    Have any supplements been studied for focus & attention?

    Numerous supplements have been studied for their effects on focus and attention, and caffeine and L-theanine have shown strong evidence of efficacy, especially when combined. Other supplements like L-tyrosine, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and Ginkgo biloba have also been researched, but the results are varied, and rigorous trials are often lacking.

    How can diet affect focus & attention?

    Healthier diet patterns, particularly those that are high in fish and plant-based foods, are associated with improved focus and attention, whereas Western-style diets that are rich in saturated fat and refined sugar are associated with decreased focus. Observational studies suggest that unhealthy diets can impair attention in both children and adults, but more research is needed to establish a causal relationship.

    Which other factors can affect focus & attention?

    Factors that can adversely affect focus and attention include sleep deprivation, chronic stress, infectious diseases, depression, addiction, unresolved tasks, rumination, and lack of planning. Each of these elements can negatively affect cognitive functions that are related to focus and attention.

    Examine Database: Focus & Attention

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    Frequently asked questions

    What are focus & attention?

    Focus is the ability to willingly direct and maintain attention on specific stimuli while ignoring others, and it plays a crucial role in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The capacity for focus can fluctuate based on an individual's physical, emotional, and cognitive states and is often influenced by factors like sleep and stress levels.

    In general terms, focus refers to the ability to willingly direct and sustain attention towards any stimulus in one’s environment, while tuning out and ignoring other environmental stimuli.[1] The ability to focus is an important aspect of overall cognitive function and is critical for learning, memory, and executive function.[2] Most brain owners are intimately familiar with the concept as well — the amount of focus and attention one is able to sustain at any given time can vary as a function of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive states. Many have experienced the stark contrast between ‘good’ days, when the ability to direct sustained and calm focus in any particular direction comes seemingly without effort, vs. the more scattered, more challenged state of focus and attention after several days’ worth of inadequate sleep or high levels of stress.

    How are focus & attention measured?

    Focus and attention are measured using various methods, including the digit span test, reaction time tests, and the Stroop color and word tests. These assessments evaluate aspects such as working memory, cognitive processing speed, and the effect of emotional stimuli on attention.

    Numerous methods have been developed to assess human attention. Some of the major ones include the following:[3]

    The digit span test (DGS), which is primarily a test of working memory, is one of the earliest tests used to measure focus & attention. During a DGS test, participants are asked to repeat a series of random digits, either in the same order that they were revealed, or backwards.

    Simple and choice reaction time (simple/choice RT) tests assess cognitive processing speed, which is well-correlated with attention and alertness. RT tests consist of two parts. For the first part (simple RT), participants are timed responding to a predictable stimulus. The second part of the test (choice RT) requires participants to respond in a correct way to one of several different, unanticipated stimuli.[4]

    The Stroop color and word test measures the Stroop effect, which is the delay in reaction time between congruent and incongruent stimuli, such as color-words printed in like vs. different colors.[5] For example, the word blue, printed in red ink, is an incongruent stimulus that takes longer to cognitively process compared to the word blue, printed in blue ink (congruent stimulus). The delay in reaction time is partially a function of attention and focus.

    The emotional Stroop test (E-Stroop) is a variant of the color and word test that instead presents to participants either neutral words, or words that are related to particular emotional states or disorders. The latter, emotion-associated words tend to be named more slowly by participants, with the delay reflecting attention ability.[6][7]

    How does physical activity affect focus & attention?

    Research indicates that physical activity generally has a positive effect on focus and attention across various age groups, from children to older adults. However, the strength of this association has been questioned, which suggests that more research is needed to confirm a direct causal relationship between exercise and cognitive function in populations without known health conditions.

    Research has consistently suggested that physical activity may have an overall positive effect on focus and attention as well as other aspects on cognitive function.[8] Moreover, the benefits of physical activity on focus and attention do not appear to be limited to any particular age group, since studies have found positive results in participants ranging from elementary school aged children[9] to adolescents[10][11] and older adults.[12]

    However, it is worth noting that the strength of the association between exercise and cognitive function reported in studies on healthy populations has recently come under scrutiny, with one umbrella review of randomized controlled trials suggesting that much of the research performed in this field may be less conclusive than advertised.[13] More research is needed to establish a direct causal relationship between exercise and cognition, at least in healthy populations.

    Have any supplements been studied for focus & attention?

    Numerous supplements have been studied for their effects on focus and attention, and caffeine and L-theanine have shown strong evidence of efficacy, especially when combined. Other supplements like L-tyrosine, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and Ginkgo biloba have also been researched, but the results are varied, and rigorous trials are often lacking.

    Numerous supplements have been studied for their effects on focus and attention. For most supplements, rigorous trials testing efficacy in large numbers of participants is lacking. Caffeine[14] and the amino acid L-theanine[15] are notable exceptions, with a large body of high-quality evidence demonstrating their efficacy for enhancing focus and attention, particularly when taken together.[16]

    The following additional supplements have been studied for their effects on focus & attention:[17]

    • L-Tyrosine: this amino acid has been shown to have positive effects on attention[18] and cognitive function under stressful conditions.[19]
    • Omega-3 fatty acids: although omega-3 fats such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for, and present at high levels in, the brain, studies on the effects of omega 3 supplements on attention have reported mixed results.[20][21]
    • B vitamins[22]
    • Nitrates[23]
    • Flavonoids and flavones[17]
    • Ginkgo biloba[24]
    • Ginseng[25]
    • Prebiotics[26]
    How can diet affect focus & attention?

    Healthier diet patterns, particularly those that are high in fish and plant-based foods, are associated with improved focus and attention, whereas Western-style diets that are rich in saturated fat and refined sugar are associated with decreased focus. Observational studies suggest that unhealthy diets can impair attention in both children and adults, but more research is needed to establish a causal relationship.

    Healthier diet patterns tend to be associated with improved focus & attention relative to western-style diets rich in saturated fat and refined sugar. High intakes of fish and plant-based foods were associated with increased measures of attention among elderly people in one cross-sectional study.[27] Observational studies of children and young adults with ADHD have also found links between focus & attention ability and healthier diet patterns. Moreover, overall less-healthy diet patterns have been associated with decreased focus & attention in these age groups.

    The effect of an unhealthy diet on focus and attention may also be acute, as suggested by one study that found consumption of a 5- or 7-day high-fat diet was sufficient to impair focus & attention in both healthy[28] and sedentary[29] adults. However, most of the evidence on the effect of diet on focus & attention tends to be observational in nature, and overall results have been mixed. More research is needed to determine whether there is a causal relationship between diet and focus & attention in different populations.

    Which other factors can affect focus & attention?

    Factors that can adversely affect focus and attention include sleep deprivation, chronic stress, infectious diseases, depression, addiction, unresolved tasks, rumination, and lack of planning. Each of these elements can negatively affect cognitive functions that are related to focus and attention.

    The following factors may adversely affect focus & attention:

    • Sleep: both acute[30] and chronic[31] sleep deprivation can have negative effects on cognition, including focus & attention[32]
    • Chronic stress[33]
    • Infectious disease[34]
    • Depression[35]
    • Addiction and substance abuse[36][37]
    • Incomplete or unresolved tasks[38][39][40][41]
    • Rumination[42]
    • Lack of planning[39]
    How could incomplete tasks affect focus and attention?
    Quick answer:

    Incomplete tasks can disrupt focus and attention due to the Zeigarnik effect, in which unresolved issues intrude into conscious thought and make it difficult to concentrate on other tasks. This phenomenon was observed by Bluma Zeigarnik, who noted that unfinished tasks persistently demand mental attention until they are completed.

    Incomplete or unresolved tasks may interfere with focus and attention through a phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik effect. Unresolved tasks or problems tend to bubble up from the subconscious to the conscious landscape as intrusive thoughts, undermining the ability to direct or maintain focus and attention on a desired target.

    The Zeigarnik effect was discovered by Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik when by chance, she left her purse in a restaurant after a night out to dinner with colleagues. When she tracked down the waiter to ask him to help him find her purse, the waiter had no recollection of her. Zeigarnik was intrigued, since minutes before the waiter had flawlessly taken and served the orders of her large dinner party entirely by memory, without writing a single note. When Zeigarnik asked the waiter how he could have forgotten her so quickly, he answered that he had no memory of patrons after they settled the bill.[43] Intrigued, Zeigarnik returned to her lab to study this phenomenon, making the observation that unresolved tasks have a tendency to insistently ‘ping’ the conscious mind until they are completed.[40] The insistent pinging diminishes focus and attention until the task is resolved.

    How could lack of planning affect focus and attention?
    Quick answer:

    Research by Masicampo and Baumeister indicates that lack of planning, rather than incomplete tasks, leads to intrusive reminders that hinder focus and attention. Their findings suggest that creating a specific plan for future tasks can alleviate these distractions and improve concentration.

    Over the years, researchers have continued to study the Zeigarnik effect to figure out how it works. In 2011, Masicampo and Baumeister performed a series of experiments that suggested lack of planning, rather than lack of task completion per se, is the source of the intrusive, pinging reminders associated with the Zeigarnik effect.

    For one study, Masicampo and Baumeister asked college students to think about how they were going to prepare for a pending exam. Half of the participants were asked to make clear study plans, detailing the time, place, and location that they were going to study. The other half of the participants, the control group, did not make any specific plans. None of the participants actually studied — instead they were asked to perform some unrelated tasks. Compared to the control group, the planning group had much higher levels of focus and attention while performing their tasks, while the control group struggled with focus and attention.[39] Based on these observations, the researchers proposed that coming up with a specific plan relieves the subconscious mind of the requirement for incessant pings or reminders to the conscious mind about unresolved tasks.[39] This suggests that forming a plan to complete an unresolved task in the future may be sufficient to overcome the Zeigarnik effect, relieving the associated drag on focus and attention.[30]

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. Attention - Simon P Kelly, Manuel Gomez-Ramirez, Jennifer L Montesi, John J FoxeL-theanine and caffeine in combination affect human cognition as evidenced by oscillatory alpha-band activity and attention task performanceJ Nutr.(2008 Aug)
    2. Attention - Yoshitake Baba, Shun Inagaki, Sae Nakagawa, Toshiyuki Kaneko, Makoto Kobayashi, Takanobu TakiharaEffects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled StudyJ Med Food.(2021 Apr)
    3. Attention - Akiko Higashiyama, Hla Hla Htay, Makoto Ozeki, Lekh R. Juneja, Mahendra P. KapoorEffects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time responseJournal of Functional Foods.()
    4. Attention - Dassanayake TL, Kahathuduwa CN, Weerasinghe VSL-theanine improves neurophysiological measures of attention in a dose-dependent manner: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.Nutr Neurosci.(2022-Apr)
    5. Reaction Time - Chanaka N Kahathuduwa, Tharaka L Dassanayake, A M Tissa Amarakoon, Vajira S WeerasingheAcute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on attentionNutr Neurosci.(2017 Jul)
    6. Attention - Divya Ramesh, Margaret Haney, Ziva D CooperMarijuana's dose-dependent effects in daily marijuana smokersExp Clin Psychopharmacol.(2013 Aug)
    7. Attention - L D'Angelo, R Grimaldi, M Caravaggi, M Marcoli, E Perucca, S Lecchini, G M Frigo, A CremaA double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effect of a standardized ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteersJ Ethnopharmacol.(Apr-May 1986)
    8. Attention - Lorenza S Colzato, Hayley Barone, Roberta Sellaro, Bernhard HommelMore attentional focusing through binaural beats: evidence from the global-local taskPsychol Res.(2017 Jan)
    9. Attention - De Bock K, Eijnde BO, Ramaekers M, Hespel PAcute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performanceInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2004 Jun)
    10. Attention - James M Brimson, Sirikalaya Brimson, Mani Iyer Prasanth, Premrutai Thitilertdecha, Dicson Sheeja Malar, Tewin TencomnaoThe effectiveness of Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst. as a nootropic, neuroprotective, or antidepressant supplement: analysis of the available clinical dataSci Rep.(2021 Jan 12)
    11. Attention - Levin R, Dor-Abarbanel AE, Edelman S, Durrant AR, Hashimoto K, Javitt DC, Heresco-Levy UBehavioral and cognitive effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor co-agonist D-serine in healthy humans: initial findingsJ Psychiatr Res.(2015 Feb)
    12. Attention - Erin McGlade, Allison Locatelli, Julia Hardy, Toshikazu Kamiya, Masahiko Morita, Koji Morishita, Yoichiro Sugimura, Deborah Yurgelun-ToddImproved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult WomenFood and Nutritional Sciences.()
    13. Attention - Gutema BT, Sorrie MB, Megersa ND, Yesera GE, Yeshitila YG, Pauwels NS, De Henauw S, Abbeddou SEffects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One.(2023)
    14. Attention - Chen Z, Yang H, Wang D, Sudfeld CR, Zhao A, Xin Y, Chen JC, Fawzi WW, Xing Y, Li ZEffect of Oral Iron Supplementation on Cognitive Function among Children and Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2022-Dec-15)
    15. Memory - Childs E, de Wit HSubjective, behavioral, and physiological effects of acute caffeine in light, nondependent caffeine usersPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2006 May)
    16. Wakefulness - Barry RJ, Clarke AR, Johnstone SJCaffeine and opening the eyes have additive effects on resting arousal measuresClin Neurophysiol.(2011 Oct)
    17. Reaction Time - Hunt MG, Momjian AJ, Wong KKEffects of diurnal variation and caffeine consumption on Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) performance in healthy young adultsPsychol Assess.(2011 Mar)
    18. Anxiety Symptoms - Rogers PJ, Hohoff C, Heatherley SV, Mullings EL, Maxfield PJ, Evershed RP, Deckert J, Nutt DJAssociation of the anxiogenic and alerting effects of caffeine with ADORA2A and ADORA1 polymorphisms and habitual level of caffeine consumptionNeuropsychopharmacology.(2010 Aug)
    19. Anxiety Symptoms - Dimpfel W, Pischel I, Lehnfeld REffects of lozenge containing lavender oil, extracts from hops, lemon balm and oat on electrical brain activity of volunteersEur J Med Res.(2004 Sep 29)
    Focus & Attention: Symptoms, causes, treatments, and your questions answered.