BBC Science | Human Body and Mind | Psychology Tests & Surveys. BioVisions. 8 Things Everybody Ought to Know About Concentrating. “Music helps me concentrate,” Mike said to me glancing briefly over his shoulder. Mike was in his room writing a paper for his U.S. History class. On his desk next to his computer sat crunched Red Bulls, empty Gatorade bottles, some extra pocket change and scattered pieces of paper. In the pocket of his sweat pants rested a blaring iPod with a chord that dangled near the floor, almost touching against his Adidas sandals.
Mike made a shift about every thirty seconds between all of the above. Do you know a person like this? The Science Behind Concentration In the above account, Mike’s obviously stuck in a routine that many of us may have found ourselves in, yet in the moment we feel it’s almost an impossible routine to get out of. When we constantly multitask to get things done, we’re not multitasking, we’re rapidly shifting our attention. Phase 1: Blood Rush Alert When Mike decides to start writing his History essay, blood rushes to his anterior prefrontal cortex. Phase 2: Find and Execute. Natural Pain Remedies from Your Kitchen. Chinese Herbal Remedies, Natural Supplements & Medicine Healing Herbs -Dimmak Herbs.
The right diet can help keep you on your game. These breakfast foods, meanwhile, aren't likely to do anything for your mental alertness: Croissants (They're too fatty.) Bagels with cream cheese ("Cream cheese has almost no protein," Wurtman says.) How about coffee for mental alertness? Coffee has been shown to increase reaction time, Wurtman says. To avoid a mid-afternoon slump, try adding these foods to your lunch: Chicken Turkey Lean burgers No-fat lunch meats Hard-boiled eggs (or eggs cooked any way without fat), plain or with no-fat mayo Bread, buns, or rolls (with a protein source) Greens and other vegetables.
Here are some lunch no-nos: French fries Cola and other sodas (A soda contains 16 teaspoons of sugar, and while the caffeine may provide a momentary blast of mental alertness, the sugar "lets you down" rapidly.) As for dinner, that's generally a time when you want to slow down and relax. Potatoes Pasta Couscous Vegetables Beans and rice Published June 6, 2003. Sources: David N. . ©2003 WebMD Inc. Last Editorial Review: 6/6/2003.