In the third part, they told how to train memory “in science” . By the way, about memory - they spoke separately here and here , and yet - they figured out how to " learn by cards ."
Today - we will discuss concentration, "multitasking" and pumping attention .
Photo: Nonsap Visuals / Unsplash
Attention - “the nerve of every psychological system”
General psychology defines attention as the ability of a person to focus at a certain point in time on an object: an object, event, image or reasoning. Attention can be arbitrary - depending on conscious interest, and - involuntary or instinctive (you will notice a conditional thunder clap regardless of your desire). Need is another important factor that affects attention: so a hungry person walking around the city will look at restaurants and cafes more often than well-fed.
The most important characteristics of attention are its selectivity and volume. So at an event a person first hears only the general noise of voices. However, once his friend suddenly speaks nearby, the attention of one and the second person will switch to their voices and communication. This phenomenon, known as the “cocktail party effect,” was experimentally confirmed in 1953 by Edward Colin Cherry of Imperial College, University of London.
The amount of attention can be expressed in the number of objects on which a person is able to concentrate at a certain moment. For an adult, this is about four to five, with a maximum of six unrelated objects: for example, letters or numbers. This does not mean that at the same time we perceive in the text only a few words - these can also be semantic fragments of the material. But their number is not more than six.
And finally, attention is characterized by its ability to move from one task to another (absent-mindedness from this point of view is insufficient ability to do this effectively) and stability - the ability to maintain concentration for some time. This property depends on the characteristics of the material being studied and the person himself.
Photo: Stefan Cosma / Unsplash
Focusing attention is one of the conditions for successful work and study. Charles Darwin wrote in his autobiography, “Memories of the Development of My Mind and Character,” which not only helped “the habit of energetic work, but also attention in relation to any business he was busy with”. And the Anglo-American psychologist Edward Bradford Titchener in the book "Lectures on the experimental psychology of sensation and attention" (1908) called him "the nerve of any psychological system."
The ability to concentrate has a positive effect on academic performance. This is evidenced by MIT studies that were conducted in Boston. They speak of attention as “a form of mental activity that must be maintained.”
Multitasking is a myth.
Popular publications write that it is allegedly possible to increase work efficiency and improve attentiveness by training multitasking. However, according to research, multitasking is a skill that, firstly, is impossible to develop, and secondly, that it is completely unnecessary.
According to the work of neuropsychologist and professor at the University of Utah, David Streyer, multitasking is a unique property: no more than 2.5% of people have it. It is genetically determined and developing it is a waste of time. “We are fooling ourselves and tend to overestimate our ability to multitask,” the scientist is convinced .
The experiments conducted at Stanford University showed that subjects placed in the conditions for solving several problems at the same time were worse at tasks. At first glance, multitasking may seem effective, but ultimately this approach takes up to 40% more time, and the results are full of errors, according to the American Psychological Association.
How to improve concentration
You can become more attentive. For example, there are studies that show that various techniques of meditation - both traditional Eastern and modern practices common in the USA and Europe, not only help relieve 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 of Singularity University recommends a few simple exercises. Sit on the subway or park in a car park? The best way to save time and at the same time train your attention is to focus for five minutes on an advertising poster or bumper sticker on the car in front, without thinking about anything else. Are you reading a difficult book and distracted? Remember the fragment where you got lost and reread it again.
Photo: Ben White / Unsplash
True, without the advice of Tom Wijack, we do this, but he claims that this works great. Sitting at a boring lecture or conference? Sit as uncomfortably as possible. You will just be forced to listen carefully, says Wijack. Educational resource Mission.org advises reading regular printed books every day, which will teach you how to concentrate on one single task for a long time and meditate. But it seems to us that such advice is too obvious.
Improving attention “in science”
The opinion of scientists seems paradoxical: to be more careful, you need not to develop this ability with special exercises or to force yourself to do your best, but simply give your brain a rest . Research psychologists believe that a person loses the ability to concentrate not because he does not know how or does not want to do this. Procrastination is not a malfunction, but a key property of the nervous system that helps our brain to function normally: intense attention (the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for this) requires a very large expenditure of energy, therefore, being distracted, we give the brain a rest.
Paul Seli, a psychologist at Harvard University, thinks so, calling procrastination "a wandering mind." He argues that rest is reasonable, citing a study published in the journal NeuroImage. It is necessary not only to "dream", but to use the time of rest to solve a simple everyday problem, which does not require great intellectual efforts. After that, you can return to study and focus again.
The advice of Paul Seli is consistent with the data obtained back in 1993: the brain is able to work hard for no more than 90 minutes. To recover, you need a 15-minute break.
A later study by the University of Illinois showed the benefits of very short — for a few seconds — mental “breaks” for the same purpose. The Georgia Institute of Technology claims that physical activity improves the perception of material, and caffeine improves memory and attention. And at the Australian National University, they conducted an experiment with 124 students and found that funny videos from YouTube help to relax and recover in order to concentrate later.
TL; DR
- Multitasking efficiency is a myth. Remember that truly “multi-tasking” people are only 2.5%. This ability is determined genetically and it is almost impossible to develop it. For the rest, multitasking is a waste of time and mistakes in work.
- You might like to meditate: this is a really good way to learn how to hold attention. True, meditation will need to be constantly.
- If you can’t concentrate, don’t scoff at your own brain. He must rest. Take breaks, but use them wisely: light exercise, a cup of coffee, or solving a simple everyday problem will help you return to school and focus more effectively.
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