We are regularly inundated with claims about a dramatic decline in attention spans. According to a 2015 study by Microsoft, the average attention span had reportedly dropped from about 12 seconds for millennials to a mere eight seconds for Gen Z. This statistic has sparked widespread concern and speculation about the implications for society at large.
Coincidentally, as the new Premier League season commenced, UEFA introduced an “eight seconds rule” for goalkeepers, stipulating that they cannot hold the ball for more than eight seconds without conceding a corner kick. This rule aims to prevent time-wasting, but it also raises intriguing questions about the average attention span required to maintain focus during such moments in a game. Could this be a reflection of how long viewers can stay engaged when nothing significant is happening on the field?
The Mechanics of Attention
Attention is a multifaceted cognitive function, and understanding its nuances is crucial. Many of us have experienced the frustration of losing track of a conversation mid-sentence. However, it’s important to recognize that attention encompasses various forms, and not all are necessarily diminishing.
The football rule is closely related to a type of attention known as visual scanning. For goalkeepers, this involves scanning the field to determine the best passing options. Numerous studies have explored visual scanning in football, although research specifically on goalkeepers remains limited.
Research on English Premier League players found that a ten-second scan time provided a small but positive performance advantage.
Scanning enables players to capitalize on time-sensitive opportunities, requiring rapid decision-making about passing or positioning. This is a form of “hot cognition”—a quick, instinctive way of thinking, distinct from the “cold” or rational cognition involved in strategic decision-making with coaches off the field.
Different Types of Attention
In strategic settings, we often employ “sustained attention,” which involves maintaining focus over extended periods. This requires significant mental concentration. Other forms, such as “divided attention” or “alternating attention,” involve shifting focus between tasks over time, typically employed in more analytical decision-making.
Different brain regions are activated depending on the type of attention. Hot decisions engage networks involving the ventromedial prefrontal or orbitofrontal cortex, supporting emotional regulation and decision-making. Cold decisions, conversely, involve the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which aids executive functions like inhibition control and short-term memory.
First impressions, another instance of rapid decision-making, rely on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, highlighting the gut instinct involved.
When meeting someone for the first time, we quickly form impressions of their attractiveness and traits. These initial judgments may evolve with more information, using sustained or divided attention. A classic literary example is found in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” where initial negative impressions eventually transform into positive ones as characters learn more about each other.
Motivation and Attention
The notion that a single brain region governs “attention” is misleading. It’s possible to enhance one form of attention while another wanes. For instance, Gen Z, known for high daily screen time, often spends 2.5 hours on social media, requiring some level of sustained attention. The eight-second attention span may relate more to visual scanning or quickly browsing for engaging content.
Young people also engage with podcasts and audiobooks, indicating an ability to focus for extended periods, particularly when content allows multitasking. This suggests that motivation can significantly enhance sustained attention.
“When enjoying yourself, time flies, and sustaining attention becomes effortless,” say mothers of children with ADHD, puzzled by their kids’ ability to focus on video games but not schoolwork.
This highlights a potential solution: making attention-requiring tasks more engaging or enjoyable. By increasing motivation, we can improve attention spans.
The Future of Attention
It’s not just scanning attention that’s reportedly declining. Studies suggest sustained attention is also decreasing, prompting some psychologists to advocate for shorter lectures. However, research on medical students found that material presented between 15 and 30 minutes was best retained, challenging the assumption that shorter is always better.
Students sitting at the front of a lecture hall remembered 80% of the content, compared to 71.6% and 68.1% for those in the middle and back, respectively.
Motivation and enthusiasm, both from students and educators, play crucial roles in maintaining attention. Biophysics researcher Neil Bradbury emphasizes the importance of passion and quality content in engaging audiences. Allowing students to shift attention between listening, viewing, and writing could also enhance retention.
Ultimately, selecting content should not rely solely on cold decision-making. Hot cognition—considering what might interest the audience—can be equally important in capturing and sustaining attention.
