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Attention

Attention

What is attention?

Attention is the process of directing cognitive resources towards certain aspects of the environment, or towards the execution of certain actions that seem most appropriate. It refers to the state of observation and alertness that allows awareness of what is happening in the environment (Ballesteros, 2000).

You are here: Home / Areas of Intervention / Cognitive Functions / Attention

In other words, attention is the ability to generate, direct, and maintain an appropriate state of alertness to correctly process information.
There are five different attention processes:

• Sustained attention: the ability to continuously maintain focus on a task or event over a long period of time. This type of attention is also called vigilance.

• Selective attention: the ability to direct attention and focus on a task without interruption or interference from either external or internal factors or stimuli.

• Alternating attention: the ability to rapidly shift focus from one task to another.

• Processing speed: the rate at which the brain performs a task (it will evidently vary according to the task and depending on other cognitive functions involved). It is measured by the elapsed time between the onset of a stimulus and the individual’s response.

• Hemineglect: great difficulty or inability to direct attention to one side (usually the left) of external space or one’s own body.

Try NeuronUP Attention Exercises

Why is attention important?

Throughout our lives we need attention for all kinds of things. From early childhood we learn to focus on certain stimuli while ignoring other stimuli that are judged less important. We sometimes are able to easily remember a conversation that we have had but cannot remember other secondary aspects: the place, the clothes of the conversation partner, whether it was cold or hot, etc. Another example is when we must concentrate on something over a long period of time, even if it is boring, like a class lecture or a meeting at work.

Try NeuronUP Activities

NeuronUP activities for the rehabilitation of attention

At NeuronUP, we offer activities for all different types of attention. Regarding sustained attention, for example, we have a task that consists of copying figures by using a model.

Exercises of NeuronUP for rehab attention

For selective attention, there is an activity called “The Magic Word” in which kids have to find hidden words within a word search puzzle.

Exercises of NeuronUP for attention rehabilitation

To improve alternating attention in children, there is an activity that involves traveling along the path by moving from square to square towards a castle as directed in the pictures.

Exercises of NeuronUP for attention rehabilitation

In order to increase processing speed, one exercise gets patients to identify the picture that is different from others within a series as quickly as possible.

Exercises of NeuronUP for rehab attention

Discover more about attention activities

Worksheet to work on sustained attention with children: The Missing Number

Worksheet to work on sustained attention with children: The Missing Number

Worksheet to work on selective attention with adults: Counting and Selecting

Worksheet to work on selective attention with adults: Counting and Selecting

waiter in action

Exercise to promote attention and impulse control: Waiter in Action

game to work selective attention

Fun game to work on selective attention with children

Attention problems: what are they, types, symptoms and exercises to improve attention

activity for improving attention in children, different picture

Worksheets for improving attention and memory in children and adults

Orientation
Gnosis
Attention
Executive Functions
Praxis
Memory
Language
Social Cognition
Visuospatial Skills

10 cognitive rehabilitation and stimulation worksheets

Get printable exercises to work on different areas of intervention with adults and children. Developed by and for professionals. Hope you like them!

Download worksheets
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