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Focal attention is a deliberate, intense concentration on a specific thing, while automatic attention is a response to external stimuli. Focused attention can be improved through practice and is beneficial for concentration and task performance. It is important to balance both types of attention for safety and brain rest. Meditation and mindfulness can also improve focused attention. Researchers study the psychology of attention to improve cognition, especially for those with attention deficit disorder.
Focal attention refers to a type of attention in which the individual is deliberately, consciously focused on a certain thing to the exclusion of surrounding images or noises. Automatic attention occurs when an individual’s attention is drawn to something; for example, a loud noise might make someone look up or lose focus, and in many cases, it’s a response that can’t be controlled. Focal attention is intense deliberate concentration and is a skill that can be practiced. It can also be referred to as object-oriented attention, if the individual is focused on a particular sense or object to the exclusion of others.
People who are able to maintain focused attention are typically able to concentrate better and perform tasks more easily than those who have difficulty maintaining focus on a particular point. It is evolutionarily natural that the brain’s attention is drawn to changes in the environment. Some people find they need to deliberately reduce distractions when working to use their focused attention, while others are better at “turning off” interruptions. Most people are able to do this to some extent, even if they don’t realize it; for example, engaging in conservation with one person in a noisy crowd or party is an example of focusing attention and filtering out surrounding noise.
Some individuals also use focused attention during meditation, which is not only a great way to improve overall concentration skills, but it’s also a way to relieve stress in everyday life. Some people will focus on the breath, while others may focus on a particular mantra or repeated phrase. Focusing on any of the five senses – smell, touch, taste, sight or hearing – is an example of focal attention. Some people practice it during the day as a type of miniature meditation and a way to practice mindfulness.
It is not possible, or even desirable, to remain in one-pointed attention one hundred percent of the time. Many activities, such as driving a car, require constantly shifting attention for the sake of selling safety. An individual’s concentration and concentration will naturally be disrupted by automatic attention during the day, not only because it is necessary to notice what is happening in the surroundings, but also to give the brain a rest. Researchers study the psychology of focused and automatic attention to see how they complement each other, which part of the brain is used for each type of attention, and how individuals can use this information to improve their cognition. This is especially important for those with certain types of attention deficit disorder, who may find themselves distracted to an impossible degree during the day.
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