Brain Basics
This is your brain's "high-beam headlights" that you use when solving a math problem or writing an essay.
What is focused attention ( or spotlight system)?
This is the standard duration of one Pomodoro in the Pomodoro Technique.
What is 25 minutes?
True or False: Multitasking allows you to do two things at once.
What is false? (Your brain rapidly switches between tasks instead.
This chemical is released in your brain every time you get a notification, like, or message.
What is dopamine?
During a break, your brain does this to its energy stores.
What is replenish (or restore)?
The average human attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to this many seconds today.
What is 8 seconds?
According to research, most people can maintain peak focus
for about this many minutes
before their attention starts to wonder.
What is 20-30 minutes?
This is what happens when part of your mind is still thinking about a previous task.
What is attention residue?
Tech companies employ these two types of professionals to make their apps addictive.
What are neuroscientists and psychologists?
This is the process where your brain transfers information from short-term to long-term memory during dbreaks.
What is memory consolidation?
This is your brain's default mode where you daydream, shower, or get your best ideas.
What is diffuse attention (or the floodlight system)?
This University conducted research showing that brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve your ability to focus.
What is the University of Illinois?
According to Stanford University research, people who regularly multitask perform worse at filtering this out.
What is irrelevant information?
Even having your phone this way reduces your cognitive capacity, according to research.
What is visible (or on your desk)?
Psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik discovered that people remember this type of task better than completed ones.
What are uncompleted tasks?
The fuel that your brain burns through rapidly when you're using focused attention
What is glucose?
The "goldilocks zone" for focus has this problem is your work period is too long.
What is brain fatigue?
This is the average amount of time it takes to fully refocus after an interruption.
What is 23 minutes and 15 seconds?
This is the journal that published research about phone visibility and concentration.
What is the Journal of the Association for Consumer research?
These are 90-120 minute cycles where your energy and focus naturally rise and fall throughout the day.
What are ultradian rhythms?
gets stronger with regular practice and is responsible for focus and self-control.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
After 4 Pomodoros, you should take this length of break instead of just 5 minutes.
What is a 15-30 minute break?
One instagram notification can cost you this much productivity time.
What is 23 minutes and 15 seconds (or approximately 23 minutes)
The recommended solution is to put your phone in this location during Pomodoro sessions.
What is another room (or somewhere you can't see it)?
Elite performers like Olympic athletes practice in focused sessions of this duration with breaks in between.
What is 60-90 minutes?