ABSTRACT
Intact attentional functions are an important prerequisite for meeting daily demands. Whenever we are not able to rely on overlearned routines, we must concentrate on and continuously monitor our actions. This is not restricted to practical actions but holds equally well for every kind of social interaction and every kind of intellectual activity. In this sense, attentional functions can be considered as fundamental processes. When we are inattentive, ‘unconcentrated’, a number of things that go on around us escape our notice. We get distracted and digress, we do not remember details afterwards. Practical actions get difficult, and we make mistakes. Thus, impairments in attentional functions have far-reaching consequences for an individual’s participation in almost every area of life, everyday activities, education, work, traffic, and nearly every other conceivable activity.
