ABSTRACT
Focus is often referred to as selective attention by researchers. The ability to focus, to orient our attention, determines what gets targeted for learning and memory. Research has found that focusing attention to avoid distractions has strong associations with academic success. Selective attention is critical for academic success because it determines how well a student can ignore distractions and pay attention to important information. One reason to practice improving selective attention is that improved focus helps us to avoid multitasking. The lack of focus helps explain why students are so prone to distraction. Using activities that improve students' focus and selective attention are worthwhile because they will actually get better at that skill, not just better at the activity. People who can focus and have more attentional resources can associate more cues with the new information, helping them to remember it later. Cognitive training to control attentional focus works for children, adolescents, young adults, and older adults.
