Colin McCormick explores human attention and how we can make it function more efficiently in a world that demands so much of it.
“My research is centered around better understanding how human attention works, what factors influence performance on tasks that assess attention, and how to make different aspects of attention work more efficiently under varying conditions.”
@ColinRM_Sci
Below there are two near-identical images that will flash one after another. Try to spot the difference between them. http://nivea.psycho.univ-paris5.fr/ECS/kayakflick.gif If you are like me, you let this image flip back and forth 10+ times before giving up. However, if I were to tell you where to look (the cliffside to the left of the […]
There’s a major problem with the tools used to measure attention in research labs: they’re incredibly boring. Typically, a person will sit in front of a computer screen and wait for targets to appear, just like in the little demo below. In this case, the target is an arrow, and the participant responds by indicating […]
The ‘attentional blink’ is a famous phenomenon within cognitive science. Researchers were able to generate a temporary blindness in their participants, where letters were being presented right in front of their eyes without them noticing. This effect helps us better understand how attention works and may prove useful in studying different disorders. What is the […]
We live in a fast-paced world, and many of us experience pressure to get things done as quickly as possible to meet strict deadlines and handle growing workloads. But, as you may be aware, faster does not always mean better. Cognitive science research frequently deals with the dynamic between speed and accuracy and how an […]
Recreational drugs are a part of most people’s lives, whether it’s a coffee in the morning to help you wake up, or a glass of wine in the evenings to help you wind down. Just like many of the other lifestyle choices we make, the drugs you consume can have an impact on your attention. […]
Take a look at the two shapes below. One of these shapes is named ‘Maluma’ and one is named ‘Takete’. Can you guess which is which? If you said that the sharp, angular shape was ‘Takete’ and the smooth and round shape was ‘Maluma’, then you just experienced one of the crossmodal correspondences first found […]
As the old expression goes, timing is everything. Cyclists have to keep their heads on a swivel to time a safe lane change. Musicians sometimes have to count out dozens of bars before playing the correct note in sync with the rest of the band. Baseball players have an impossibly small window to hit a […]
This article was originally published on The Conversation Canada on May 2, 2022 Whether you’re driving a car with children yelling in the backseat or trying to read a book in a coffee shop while someone talks loudly on their phone, attention is essential for navigating and interacting with the world. However, attention has a […]
It’s the start of a holiday weekend, and you’re chugging along in traffic. You’re in the left-most lane and see your exit coming up. You begin the tricky process of timing your lane change for when there’s available space while accounting for the cars in the next lane over, the car in front of you, […]
You’ve probably experienced days where you wish it was easier to power through that lengthy to-do list at work and not get distracted by every notification that pops up on your computer screen. Well, research has identified a way to help boost your focus in the same way that working out improves your physical health. […]
