Over time, a wide variety of stimuli have been developed that impact our daily tasks. Technological advances have allowed us to have daily contact with electronic devices that generate notifications and warnings on various topics simultaneously. This fact takes place at a time of constant changes in the world and denotes a permanent effort, since human beings must have the ability to direct their concentration towards a large number of specific objectives in short periods of time.
In this Psychology-Online article we will provide you with information about the Alternate attention: what it is, how it works and exercises to work on it.
What is alternate care
Alternate attention is the capacity that the human being has to changing the focus of attention from one stimulus to another in very short periods of time. In turn, the speed of information processing that the brain has is highlighted here as one of the main pillars to understand this quality.
For this reason, attention is one of those that intervenes in the understanding of knowledge and its interrelation.
What is alternate care for?
Below you will find the two main functions of alternating attention:
Information selection
First of all, it should be taken into account that people process information through various means. Here the nervous, auditory, olfactory, respiratory systems, among others, come into play. However, although these systems are in contact with a considerable variety of external stimuli, the truth is that it is not possible to process all the data that is acquired simultaneously.
Given this, the attention alternates allows the person to select relevant information on other data of less importance. An example of this characteristic can manifest itself in the work environment when a person decides to pay attention to their boss instead of to someone else’s messages that do not stop arriving on their phone.
Multiplicity of tasks
Secondly, this capability provides the possibility of perform multiple tasks in short periods of time. In turn, the speed involved in alternating attention allows us to change the focus of attention from one stimulus to another without the need to lose the actions carried out previously.
On the other hand, depending on the level of difficulty of the tasks being carried out, in some cases it is possible to carry them out simultaneously, depending on the resources of each person. For example, it is common for some people to listen to music while doing household tasks such as washing clothes or ironing, among others.
How alternate care works
As we have mentioned previously, people receive a significant amount of external stimuli that are processed through different channels. However, the truth is that it is not possible to place one above the others, since cognition only focuses on those most transcendental aspects that are occurring at a given moment.
Alternating attention works through three main qualities:
- Stimulus capture: process by which sensory receptors begin to work to receive the stimulus.
- Maintenance: consists of maintaining the level of attention for a short period of time. In the case of alternating attention, the duration is usually variable due to the variability of stimuli.
- Ending: culmination of the work of the sensory receptors in response to the stimulus on which the attentional focus has been placed.
Exercises to work on alternate attention
How to work with alternating attention? In order to develop this cognitive function, it is important to know the possible approach methods. Therefore, below we show you the most effective exercises to work on alternating attention:
- Creating number sequences: within the same game, the idea is to follow a certain sequence of numbers according to imposed rules. For example, a number may mean that the person must move forward three spaces. In this way, the redirection of the attention focus towards more than one task is favored.
- Alternate care sheets: The objective of this activity is to arrange chips of the same color and/or shape within a box. The person will have to order them according to particular instructions.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Caprio, M.J. (2020). Selective, alternating and sustained attention as a tool for effective work performance. Faculty of Humanities and Economic Sciences. Argentine Catholic University. Santa María de los Buenos Aires.
- Londono Ocampo, LP (2009). Attention: a basic psychological process. Magazine of the Faculty of Psychology Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, 5 (8), 91-100.