Why is it so difficult to maintain concentration in the face of incessant phone notifications? Recent work suggests that this difficulty may stem from a fundamental brain mechanism, deeply rooted in our functioning.
A study conducted at the University of Rochester demonstrates that our attention is not stable. It oscillates in a very fast cycle, alternating between phases of focus and moments when it is more easily drawn to external elements. These cycles occur approximately seven to ten times every second, representing several hundred thousand occurrences per day.
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To examine this phenomenon, scientists recorded the brain activity of volunteers using an electroencephalogram. Participants had to focus on a gray square in the center of a screen while ignoring colored dots appearing on the sides. The data, cleaned of eye movements, revealed repetitive patterns in brain activity.
These rhythmic patterns made it possible to predict the moments when attention became more fragile in the face of distractions. During phases where performance in detecting the central target decreased, participants showed greater vulnerability to disruptive elements. This mechanism would have been an asset for our ancestors, allowing them to monitor their environment while accomplishing a task.
Today, this same brain rhythm can become a handicap. In an environment saturated with screens and visual alerts, these brief windows where attention is less stable make us more sensitive to interruptions. The lead researcher of the study published in
PLOS Biology clarifies that what once favored survival can now hinder our productivity.
These findings could help understand certain disorders like ADHD. Although the study did not focus on this condition, it opens a research path. It is conceivable that in these disorders, the alternation between states of concentration and vigilance is less frequent, which would affect cognitive flexibility.
In the longer term, understanding these cycles could lead to methods helping to modulate attention. By identifying moments when the brain is more permeable to distractions, it would be possible to create tools to improve concentration when the need arises.