Attention

Petersen and Posner describe three brain networks for attention [1]. An alerting network is tied to arousal and to sustained vigilance, an orienting network includes parietal cortex among other regions, and an executive network includes midline frontal and anterior cingulate cortex [1]. The orienting network handles the ability to prioritize sensory input by selecting a modality or location [1].

In their account, research on alerting, the network tied to sustained vigilance, has emphasized producing and maintaining optimal vigilance and performance during tasks [1]. Sustained attention is not steady: it fluctuates from moment to moment, and several neurocognitive factors contribute to these swings [3]. Models of arousal, mind wandering, cognitive resource allocation and effort all bear on how sustained attention holds up [3].

Selective attention lets a person focus on what they choose and suppress attention to other stimuli [2]. Diamond's example is a cocktail party, where a listener wants to screen out all but one voice [2]. Her review places selective attention under interference control, part of the executive function of inhibition [2].

"Attention" in a trial can mean very different tasks, from tests of sustained vigilance to tests that ask people to ignore distracting information [1][2]. Check which one produced the result before reading it as a general effect on focus.

On NootropicsWork, Attention is one graded outcome that covers sustained, selective and vigilance tasks, because the trials graded so far do not give separate evidence for each subtype. Attention switching is graded separately. Task switching draws on cognitive flexibility, also called set shifting, which Diamond counts as its own core executive function [2].

A trial might report fewer missed targets on one attention task and no change on another. Those are two findings, not one general effect on attention.

Vigilance, executive function, working memory and reaction time.