improving one's ability to focus....

From: john grigg (starman125@hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 27 2000 - 14:37:02 MST


Skye wrote:
What I mean is, a mode where one subject or problem holds your attention
strongly to the exclusion of all other objects...
(end)

This state is known as "hyperfocus" and is sometimes common for people with
learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder. They can have trouble
getting focused to begin with but once they do, they lock on like a pit bull
and don't want to let go to the exclusion sometimes of other tasks and even
eating.

Skye wrote:
if it was possible tocreate a site-specific timed neurodepressant, you could
get the same sort of increased focus you get from, for example, caffeine, to
a much higher degree for a short time... by depressing the brain's
"interrupt factor". Or, you could play with stimulating it, to keep yourself
out of a rut...
(end)

Prescription only drugs such as ritalin, adderall, cylert and dexadrine
already are designed to do this to at least some extent. The theory is that
a part of the frontal lobe is underactive for some people and the rest of it
tries to overcompensate for this which creates attention deficit disorder.

My understanding is that ritalin and other drugs do not have the beneficial
effects for those without the a.d.d. challenge. Also ritalin is a
controlled substance being is a central nervous system stimulant, similar to
amphetamines in the nature and duration of its effects.

Many people with a.d.d. love their coffee because they find the coffee does
give increased focus where for others it would simply overstimulate.

There are other methods to gaining focus. They range from meditation,
biofeedback (which takes training and some fairly expensive equipment), and
various tapes of white or pink noise that are said to put the mind in a
focused state. Good luck with finding better ways to focus.

sincerely,

John Grigg
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