Improving attention through game-based activities
UNDERSTANDING ATTENTION
WHAT IS ATTENTION?
Attention is our ability to focus on relevant features of our environment. It is fundamental for effective learning and functioning in school, and comes into play in almost every situation, as attention needs to be maintained over time to achieve a goal (e.g., reading a book, listening to the radio). Our attention is not always under our control. Sometimes unexpected events in our environment such as loud noises capture our attention. It is important that we are able to direct our attention towards goal-directed activity in order to achieve our goals and be successful.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ATTENTION
Researchers have identified three main types of attention: sustained attention, selective attention and divided attention. Sustained attention refers to our ability to focus on a task over time. Almost every task or activity requires sustained attention over time (e.g. reading a booking, listening to the radio and taking notes). Selective attention refers to our ability to look out for important information while ignoring distracting information. In daily life, selective attention is essential for many activities such as focusing on a teacher's instructions in a noisy, busy classroom. Divided attention refers to our ability to complete two different tasks simultaneously. Examples of divided attention include listening to the teacher and writing notes at the same time or listening to the radio while driving.
DEVELOPMENT OF ATTENTION
Attention develops gradually from birth throughout childhood and adolescence at the same time as the areas of the brain linked to attention. Aspects of attention (e.g. selective attention, divided attention) begin to develop in childhood and reach maturity in adolescence.
ATTENTION DIFFICULTIES
Attention difficulties are common in children. Most difficulties are generally associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is the most common diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood. However, attention difficulties are often co-occur with a range of other conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, learning disability, anxiety, depression and brain injury.
MEASURING ATTENTION
Attention can be measured through behavioural report. This involves asking individuals close to the child (e.g. parent or teacher) to rate the frequency with which the child exhibits inattentive behaviour. Neuropsychological tests can also be used to assess children's attention. These tests are designed to measures the various aspects of attention - sustained attention, selective attention and divided attention. Typically they involve the child completing computerised or pencil/paper activities. An "attention score" is derived from from both methods of assessment, which is used to understand the child's attentional ability.
IMPROVING ATTENTION
Attention training is based on the concept of “skills training” which assumes that the various types of attention are skills that can be improved by training. Attention is thought to improve after repetitive practice of a task that exercises parts of the brain related to attention. Because attention training focuses on training our ability to pay attention, which is fundamental to multiple tasks, it is expected that the benefits of training will transfer to other skills and subsequently improve performance (e.g., improve academic performance). Previous research has demonstrated some efficacy of attention training programmes for improving sustained attention, selective attention and divided attention.