User:Keaneybr/Directed Attention Fatigue

Directed Attention Fatigue Proposal:

What is Directed Attention?

use of brain's global inhibitory system to handle incoming distractions while maintaining focus on task at hand

What is Directed Attention Fatigue?

is a normal biological process
is a temporary condition
happens when a particular part of brain's global inhibitory systems are overused due to increasing numbers of stimuli needing to be supressed
is simply fatigue, not an illness or personality disorder
6 major areas of mental processing that are affected by DAF (according to Kaplan research):

Input- misperception, missing social cues
Thinking- restlessness, confusion, forgetfulness, decreased metacognition
Behavior- impulsiveness, recklessness, diminished threshold between thoughts and actions, actions that are out of character
Executive Functioning- inability to plan and make appropriate decisions, impaired judgment
Emotions- short temperedness, unpleasantness
Social Interactions- irritability, feeling antisocial

Overlap of symptoms from each of the six categories is highly indicative of DAF.

Biology/Physiology of Directed Attention Fatigue

parts of brain that are involved in Direct Attention

is localized in prefrontal cortex, through anterior cingulate gyrus, down to brain stem's basal ganglia

mechanisms of Direct Attention

brain becomes fatigued while blocking several competing incoming stimuli from external distractions

What triggers onset of Directed Attention Fatigue?

multitasking
disruptive background noise
rapid changes of focus during prolonged period of attention
lack of sleep
concentration-intensive tasks such as filing taxes, learning unfamiliar ideas
stress resulting from emergencies, exams, or work deadlines
illness or injury that interrupts brain circuits involved in maintaining attention

What can be done to reduce Directed Attention Fatigue symptoms?

reduce number of distractions in external environment
try to clear mind of any internal distractions
take short breaks during any prolonged periods of attention or focus
get sufficient amount of sleep each night

Who is currently involved in Directed Attention Fatigue research?

Drs. Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, University of Michigan enviromental psychologists
Dr. Bernadine Cimprich, University of Michigan Professor of Nursing
Dr. Frances Kuo and Dr. William Sullivan, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana psychologists

Resources to be used:

Beadle, S. Directed Attention Fatigue and Restoration, 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. http://www.troutfoot.com/attn/index.html.

Berman, Mark G., and Stephen Kaplan. "Directed Attention as a Common Resource for Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation." Perspectives on Psychological Science 5.1 (2010): 43-57. Google ::Scholar. Web. 20 Feb. 2011.

Cimprich B. (1993) Development of an intervention to restore attention in cancer patients. Cancer Nurs. 1993 Apr;16(2):83-92.

Kaplan, S. and R. Kaplan (1982). Cognition and Environment. New York: Praeger. Republished 1989 by Ulrich’s, Ann Arbor, MI.

Kaplan, S. (1978). Attention and fascination: The search for cognitive clarity. In S. Kaplan & R. Kaplan (Eds.), Humanscape: Environments for people. Belmont, CA: Duxbury. (Republished by Ann ::Arbor, MI: Ulrich's, 1982)

Kuo FE, Sullivan WC. Aggression and violence in the inner city: impacts of environment via mental fatigue. Environment Behav. 2001;33:543–571.

Lezak, M.D., Assessing executive functions, International Journal of Psychology, 17 (1982) 281-297

Kaplan, R. and Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press 1989: 177-200.

Workload Division:

Bridget Keaney-current research of DAF
Debra Hwang- psychological aspects of DAF
Young Byun-biological aspects of DAF