In a world of stimulatory overload, it is only natural that an increasing number of people are experiencing difficulties concentrating. From juggling commitments to multi-tasking, the daily grind can overwhelm even the strongest of us. So how can you cope with the pressure and still perform at your best? Keep reading to find out more.
Study: How can you improve a child’s attention span when the brain is still developing?
Result: A study by the University of Oregon, led by Eugene Starke, found that attention and intelligence can improve with five brain training sessions.
Source: Rueda, M.R., Rothbart, M.K., McCandliss, B.D., Saccomanno, L., Posner, M.I. (2005)Training, maturation, and genetic influences on the development of executive attention. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.;102(41):14931-6.
Study: Does personalized brain training lead to better results than brain training sessions which are not personalized?
Result: The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found improvements in the attention spans of both older and younger participants, as well as participants self rated cognitive skills. Personalized training was seen to be more effective than non-personalized training, and the benefits were still observed 3-months later.
Source: Brehmer, Y., Westerberg, H., Bäckman, L. (2012) Working memory training in younger and older adults: training gains, transfer, and maintenance. Front Hum Neurosci.; 6(63). doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00063.
Study: Can dual N-Back tasks improve attention, updating and short term memory?
Result: In a study conducted by researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis, participants showed strong transfer effects with N-Back task training, and these improvements were attributed to improvements in participant’s attention span.
Source: Lilienthal, L., Tamez, E., Shelton, J.T., Myerson, J., Hale, S. (2013) Dual n-back training increases the capacity of the focus attention. Psychon Bull Rev.;20(1):135-41. doi: 10.3758/s13423-012-0335-6