Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

For some, focusing is a lot easier

|
|
 
  
Published: Aug. 7, 2009 at 7:26 PM

EUGENE, Ore., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say some people may be more susceptible to irrelevant stimuli than others.

The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, said the finding may help lead to therapies to help those easily distracted to focus better.

Principal study investigator Edward Vogel of the University of Oregon suspects people who are good at staying on focus have a good gatekeeper -- similar to a bouncer hired to allow only approved people into concert.

"Often, to be able to complete complex and important goal-directed behavior, we need to be able to ignore salient but irrelevant things, such as advertisements flashing around an article you are trying to read on a computer screen," Vogel says in a statement.

The researchers fount the 84 students whose brain activity was being monitored using electroencephalography quickly and accurately identified targets when objects moved around the screen. However, as distracting components were added, some maintained accuracy while others diverted their attention.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Health News Stories
1 of 29
Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery
View Caption
U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc
fark
I'm thinking of using a non-sequitor to greet various people. I was thinking something like "Brother"...
Photoshop this Passing President
The Lord is just in all his ways: redlight runner who hit nun has iPhone stolen by passerby offering...
Can you order top shelf hookers at the Travelodge? It's more likely than you think. (Not safe for...
70 years ago today Czech partisans made Hitler very angry
Newly upgraded to a tropical storm and now Beryling in on Southeast coast