Unfocus
Aleks Krotoski asks whether we can exert more awareness and control over what grabs our attention and explores the pros and cons of focus and unfocus.
We've all had experiences of our attention wandering, usually at those moments when we most need to concentrate.
But, in our productivity-driven society, are we placing too much emphasis on paying attention and failing to recognise the benefits of more unstructured thought processes? After all, focus comes at a cost. With numerous demands on our attention, it's all too easy to experience burnout. Unfocus can recharge our batteries and allow us to be creative by making connections and connecting with other people.
In this episode, Aleks Krotoski explores some of the different modes of attention we can switch between and asks whether, perhaps, we should be awarding our unfocus equal status to our focus.
Producer: Lynsey Moyes
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Contributor Biographies
Dr Linda A. Henkel
Dr Linda A. Henkel is a professor of Psychology at Fairfield University in Connecticut, U.S.A.Ìý Dr. Henkel and her research team examine memory and cognition across the lifespan and in a variety of everyday life settings. Dr Henkel’s recent research has examined how taking and viewing photos shapes what we remember, and how nursing home residents can improve their memory accessibility and mental health by thinking about and sharing their recollections with others.Ìý
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Dr Carmel Mevorach
Dr Mevorach is a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Birmingham.Ìý In his research he focuses on mechanisms of top-down attention control, which lie at the heart of various cognitive functions. Alongside two of his colleagues, Dr Mevorach has developed a new computerised assessment and training test for children and adults with ADHD, called CPAT.. By better understanding the circuitry of top-down attentional selection in health, he aims to shed light on attentional functioning and unveil ways in which they might be improved.Ìý
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Peter Shankman
Peter Shankman is an author and entrepreneur whose writing focuses on ADHD, the neurodiverse economy, social media, marketing and advertising.Ìý Peter is also the host of ‘Faster than Normal’ – an ADHD podcast which emphasises the positive elements of neurodiversity and raises awareness about the intricacies of the condition.Ìý He is the founder of journalist network HARO and The ShankMinds Breakthrough Network, which specialises in bringing thought leaders, business experts, and change makers together.Ìý Peter is also a popular keynote speaker, and lectures on various topics throughout the world.
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Dr. Srini Pillay
Dr Srini Pillay is a fellow at The American Institute of Stress and specialises in the neuroscience behind stress, anxiety and burnout.Ìý He is also the author of several books on neuroscience and focus.Ìý Dr Pillay has co-founded start-ups focusing on technology for anxiety and antifragility, and is a member of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry, dedicated to shaping psychiatric thinking, public programs and clinical practice in mental health. Using a uniquely practical and scientific approach incorporating business research and real-world experience, Dr Pillay also consults on how to harness the brain’s power to manage stress, anxiety and uncertainty, increase innovation, and enhance corporate agility and productivity.Ìý For the past decade Dr Pillay has shared his expertise with companies that invest in biotechnology to assess medications in various illnesses including cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
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Stevie Knauss
Stevie Knauss is an artist working in performance, installation, and print. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Visual Art at Hunter College, where she is developing a body of work about attention, capital, and chaos. She is the proud co-owner of a small bindery in Brooklyn, where she fixes old books. Her collective work includes, but is not limited to her affiliation with ESTAR(SER), Friends of Attention, and the Hunter Moving Image Alliance. Beyond these endeavors, she is known primarily by her expertise in “messing around.â€
Broadcasts
- Mon 1 Nov 2021 16:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Thu 25 Aug 2022 20:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
Podcast
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The Digital Human
Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world