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Focus & Attention
•Last Updated: May 23, 2023
Focus and attention refers to the ability to concentrate on a target stimulus, problem, or task for a specific period of time. Focus and attention are important to effectively carry out tasks in everyday life.
Focus & Attention falls under theBrain Healthcategory.
Last Updated:May 23, 2023
Focus is the ability to willingly direct and maintain attention on specific stimuli while ignoring others, and it plays a crucial role in cognitive functions such as learning and memory. The capacity for focus can fluctuate based on an individual's physical, emotional, and cognitive states and is often influenced by factors like sleep and stress levels.
Focus and attention are measured using various methods, including the digit span test, reaction time tests, and the Stroop color and word tests. These assessments evaluate aspects such as working memory, cognitive processing speed, and the effect of emotional stimuli on attention.
Research indicates that physical activity generally has a positive effect on focus and attention across various age groups, from children to older adults. However, the strength of this association has been questioned, which suggests that more research is needed to confirm a direct causal relationship between exercise and cognitive function in populations without known health conditions.
Numerous supplements have been studied for their effects on focus and attention, and caffeine and L-theanine have shown strong evidence of efficacy, especially when combined. Other supplements like L-tyrosine, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and Ginkgo biloba have also been researched, but the results are varied, and rigorous trials are often lacking.
Healthier diet patterns, particularly those that are high in fish and plant-based foods, are associated with improved focus and attention, whereas Western-style diets that are rich in saturated fat and refined sugar are associated with decreased focus. Observational studies suggest that unhealthy diets can impair attention in both children and adults, but more research is needed to establish a causal relationship.
Factors that can adversely affect focus and attention include sleep deprivation, chronic stress, infectious diseases, depression, addiction, unresolved tasks, rumination, and lack of planning. Each of these elements can negatively affect cognitive functions that are related to focus and attention.
Research FeedRead all studies
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- Attention - Akiko Higashiyama, Hla Hla Htay, Makoto Ozeki, Lekh R. Juneja, Mahendra P. KapoorEffects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time responseJournal of Functional Foods.()
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- Reaction Time - Chanaka N Kahathuduwa, Tharaka L Dassanayake, A M Tissa Amarakoon, Vajira S WeerasingheAcute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on attentionNutr Neurosci.(2017 Jul)
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