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ADDitude Magazine
For many adults and children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD), the biggest daily challenge is paying attention – at work, in class, in the middle of conversations... Even the non-ADDers among us could benefit from some attention training from time to time. And now new evidence suggests that alternative ADHD treatments. like meditation and working-memory training can improve attention and focus across the board.
One study found that, after just five days of computer-based training, the brains of six-year-olds begin to act like those of adults on one crucial measure of attention. Another study suggested that boosting short-term memory seems to improve children's ability to stay on task.
We do not yet know how long these gains may last, or the best methods for developing attention. But the demand is clear: Dozens of schools nationwide are already incorporating some kind of attention training into their curricula. And as this new arena of research helps overturn long-standing assumptions about attention and memory, it offers intriguing possibilities. Find out about the specific brain training practices here:
Next: Neurofeedback...
