divided attention
Concentration spread thin
Divided attention is the mental capacity to focus on multiple tasks or stimuli simultaneously.
The term appears in psychology and cognitive science to describe how we split concentration: Driving while talking on the phone requires divided attention.
Unlike sustained attention on a single task, divided attention typically results in reduced performance on each competing demand.
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- spinning platesBalancing rotating dishes aloft
- switchingChanging from one to another
- working memoryTemporary cognitive holding space
- jugglingSequential toss-and-catch performance
too many tabs · screen time · fragmented · executive function · concentration · mental effort · distraction · half listening · focus · driving · cognitive flexibility · decision-making · split · notifications · overwhelmed · brain drain · pulled · cognitive load
- attentionfocus, focused, attentiveness, vigilant, concentration
- Attention Statesdistracted, alert, engaged, disengaged, hyperfocus
- multitaskingjuggling, context switching, time sharing, balancing, parallel processing
- Attention TestsCPT, dichotic listening
- cognitive interferencecross-talk, cognitive load
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
divided attentionfocused attention
Directed mental energy
undivided attention · sustained attention · selective attention · full attention · laser focus
divided attentionpresence
State of being somewhere
mindfulness · flow state · deep work · immersion · single-tasking