"The eight-second effect": why our attention is scattered and how to fix it
Modern man lives in a deluge of information - and increasingly there are alarming claims that our ability to focus has dramatically decreased.
In 2015, Microsoft reported that buzzers had their average attention span reduced to eight seconds, compared to 12 seconds for millennials.
Coincidentally or not, that's how long a goalkeeper in the Premier League can now hold the ball before his team loses the ball. This is reported by The Conversation.
However, neuroscientist Barbara Jacqueline Sahakian believes: it's not that simple.
In fact, attention is not a one-size-fits-all process, but a whole system that includes:
Scanning attention - when, for example, a football player looks for whom to give the ball to in a matter of seconds.
Sustained attention - the ability to concentrate on something for long periods of time.
Split and alternating attention - when the brain switches between tasks.
Interestingly, the best footballers spend more time "scanning the pitch", especially if there are no opponents around. This is a typical example of "hot thinking" - a quick emotional reaction similar to intuition. But we use cold, rational thinking outside the field - when analysing videos or having strategic discussions.
We often form an opinion about a person in seconds. This is due to the workings of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of the brain. This attention is based on a quick emotional response rather than logic.
Later we can correct the impression by incorporating already sustained and divided attention. In literature, a prime example is Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice: first dislike, later love.
Is it possible to train attention?
Yes. Moreover, motivation directly affects the ability to concentrate. For example, children with ADHD who have difficulty concentrating in class can play video games for hours. The reason is the enjoyment of the process. The same goes for teenagers: although they spend 2.5 hours a day on social media, they are also capable of listening to podcasts and audiobooks for long periods of time. The key is interest.
Some studies show that students' attention span wanes after as little as 15 minutes of a lecture. However, the best memorised material is that which is taught between the 15th and 30th minute. This means that the structure of the presentation of information matters.
It has also been observed that students who sit closer to the lecturer remember more. However, it is also important to consider motivation - interested listeners are more likely to choose the front rows.
Attention does not die - it changes and depends on the situation, motivation and form of information presentation. Do you want your child to learn? Make the process interesting. Want adults to listen? Take care of structure, illustrations and engagement.