Which other factors can affect focus & attention?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    The following factors may adversely affect focus & attention:

    • Sleep: both acute[1] and chronic[2] sleep deprivation can have negative effects on cognition, including focus & attention[3]
    • Chronic stress[4]
    • Infectious disease[5]
    • Depression[6]
    • Addiction and substance abuse[7][8]
    • Incomplete or unresolved tasks[9][10][11][12]
    • Rumination[13]
    • Lack of planning[10]

    References

    1. ^Thompson KI, Chau M, Lorenzetti MS, Hill LD, Fins AI, Tartar JLAcute sleep deprivation disrupts emotion, cognition, inflammation, and cortisol in young healthy adults.Front Behav Neurosci.(2022)
    2. ^Hans P A Van Dongen, Greg Maislin, Janet M Mullington, David F DingesThe cumulative cost of additional wakefulness: dose-response effects on neurobehavioral functions and sleep physiology from chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivationSleep.(2003 Mar 15)
    3. ^Deak MC, Stickgold RSleep and cognition.Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci.(2010-Jul)
    4. ^Sandi CStress and cognition.Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci.(2013-May)
    5. ^Patricia Alves Reis, Hugo Caire Castro-Faria-NetoSystemic Response to Infection Induces Long-Term Cognitive Decline: Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress as Therapeutical TargetsFront Neurosci.(2022 Feb 18)
    6. ^Schmid M, Hammar ÅCognitive function in first episode major depressive disorder: poor inhibition and semantic fluency performance.Cogn Neuropsychiatry.(2013)
    7. ^Thomas J GouldAddiction and cognitionAddict Sci Clin Pract.(2010 Dec)
    8. ^Tatiana Ramey, Paul S RegierCognitive impairment in substance use disordersCNS Spectr.(2019 Feb)
    9. ^Mäntylä T, Sgaramella TInterrupting intentions: Zeigarnik-like effects in prospective memory.Psychol Res.(1997)
    10. ^E J Masicampo, Roy F BaumeisterConsider it done! Plan making can eliminate the cognitive effects of unfulfilled goalsJ Pers Soc Psychol.(2011 Oct)
    11. ^ Zeigarnik, B Das Behalten erledigter und unerledigter Handlungen (Retention of completed and uncompleted actions.)Psychologische Forschung, 9, 1–85.(1927)
    12. ^Zeigarnik, B.On finished and unfinished tasks. In: In W. D. Ellis (Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology (pp. 300–314);London, England: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company(1938)
    13. ^Whitmer AJ, Gotlib IHAn attentional scope model of rumination.Psychol Bull.(2013-Sep)