attention

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attention

The direction of some of the channels of sensory input to a restricted area of the environment. Since the number of possible sources of information in the environment is so great, attention, which selectively directs and concentrates awareness and controls input, is of the first importance. Attention is seldom continuous for long and is determined mainly by the degree of interest in the source of the information. Attention is closely related to effectiveness in memory storage. It is no accident that people with a wide range of strong interests tend to have well-stocked minds. Motivation, as towards learning or achieving qualification, is a less powerful stimulus to attention than interest. Fortunately, interest grows with knowledge. Attention can be objectively demonstrated by such methods as electro-encephalography or PET scanning, which show special activity in the parts of the brain most employed at the time.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Patient discussion about attention

Q. what shall I do, he pays no attention if I try to get his attention to medicine by any other way? hi everyone….My 8 year old son with ADHD is improving well with his treatment, but it becomes very difficult for me to give him the medicine as he does not takes them and runs away with its bad taste…what shall I do, he pays no attention if I try to get his attention to medicine by any other way?

A. Hey Jennifer, there are some ways.…you can talk to your doctor for change of medicine with good flavor. You can try to give medicine with honey or sugar. Engage him in a television program of his choice and then try to feed him the medicine. You can lure him in exchange for something he loves. The best way is to explain him why he must have them & what benefit he will have and compare them with some lozenges and its bad effects like tooth decay by showing photos of decaying teeth. If it is a tablet, try to give him in liquid from by mixing the tablet in water. Good Luck!

Q. My 5 year old son is diagnosed with ADHD and he is more hyperactive than attention seeking. My 5 year old son is diagnosed with ADHD and he is more hyperactive than attention seeking. We are planning for alternative treatment now and then we would try for medicine. I've heard about increasing on Omega-3 -fish oil, but is there anything else out there that is safe enough to try?

A. Many are there, which I have tried for my son from 4 years. First and the foremost is the diet which I think you know. Behavioral and Cognitive therapies can be tried as it’s very effective. You can try a chiropractor and as well calming techniques. Try them……they are helpful.

Q. I wish to know the alarming signs in pregnancy that require immediate attention. I am pregnant and in my 2 week. As a precautionary measure, I wish to know the alarming signs in pregnancy that require immediate attention.

A. here are some major ones- Vaginal Bleeding, Cramping (in the second and third trimester, in the first it's normal to have slight cramps), Severe Headaches (long lasting headaches are one of the early signs of preeclampsia), Blurred Vision (another sign of preeclampsia),cannot feel the baby move after about week 16 to 20 pregnancy.

More discussions about attention

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References in periodicals archive ?

Attention to threat in anxiety-prone individuals: mechanisms underlying attentional bias.

Applications of the dot probe task in attentional bias research in eating disorders: A review

There is still much confusion within empirical literature concerning the extent to what auditory distraction disrupts task performance by depleting general attentional resources, or if it competes for specific representational space instead.

THE EFFECTS OF IRRELEVANT BACKGROUND SPEECH ON SERIAL RECALL MEMORY

In most studies, the external attentional focus has been found to be more beneficial.

Effects of three types of attentional focus on standing long jump performance

We used pictures of facial expressions as stimuli instead of words, because GAD patients have been shown to exhibit attentional bias towards facial expressions with negative valence, (11) and because the perception of facial expressions is less bound by cultural factors.

Attentional Bias Modification Training for Patients with Generalised Anxiety Disorder: a Randomised Controlled Study

Five CCPT-II measures were selected following a non-structured review of CCPT studies with ADHD participants, as they were found to be very sensitive in identifying nuances in attentional profiles (7).

Latent class analysis of attention and white matter correlation in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

In the current study, the effect of attentional focus on dancers' performance of a pirouette was investigated.

Effect of Skilled Dancers' Focus of Attention on Pirouette Performance

(2007) applied eye-movement tracking devices and discovered that a well-designed concept map can improve the efficiency of attention, allowing learners to allocate attentional information resources from the higher part of the hierarchy and the center of the network to more effectively complete knowledge construction.

A Votable Concept Mapping Approach to Promoting Students' Attentional Behavior: An Analysis of Sequential Behavioral Patterns and Brainwave Data

As previously mentioned, a heightened LPP amplitude indicates an increase in motivational engagement and allocation of attentional resources (Schupp et al., 2000).

IMPLICIT NEED FOR AFFILIATION AND PROCESSING OF EMOTIONAL IMAGES: EVENT-RELATED POTENTIAL CORRELATES

The stepwise discriminant analysis (Table 3) showed that Wilks' lambda, as a test of discriminant function, was significant (lambda = 0.736; [chi square] = 72.051, df = 8, p < 0.001) and selected the five following variables as determinants of physical inactivity (based on structure matrix loading): older (-0.626), perceived poor health (0.442), less use of internal memory strategies (0.213), attentional control (-0.196), and poor confidence to overcome barriers to PA practice (0.555).

Cognitive Strategies and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Discriminant Analysis

Univariate regression analysis of continuous demographic and clinical variables (MDS-UPDRS III, disease duration, and LEDD) and categorical demographic variables and clinical variables (gender, smoking history, level of education, i.e., secondary school or tertiary education, and cognitive status) was performed in order to determine whether these variables were significantly associated with BIS-11 second-order attentional and nonplanning subscale scores.

Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Trait Impulsivity in Parkinson's Disease Patients

The current study expanded on previous studies by investigating the time course of attentional engagement toward pain facial expressions among young adults with chronic pain over the course of 3,000 ms.

Attentional Engagement for Pain-Related Information among Individuals with Chronic Pain: The Role of Pain Catastrophizing

The present study employed the classic dot-probe task to investigate the attentional bias of test-anxious individuals.

Examination Stress Results in Attentional Bias and Altered Neural Reactivity in Test-Anxious Individuals