Hyperfocus

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Monotropic (hyperfocus) and polytropic learning

Hyperfocus is an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task. In some individuals, various subjects or topics may also include daydreams, concepts, fiction, the imagination, and other objects of the mind. Hyperfocus on a certain subject can cause side-tracking away from assigned or important tasks.

Contents

Psychiatrically, it is considered to be a trait of ADHD together with inattention, and it has been proposed as a trait of other conditions, such as schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). [1] [2]

One proposed factor in hyperfocus as a symptom involves the psychological theory of brain lateralization, wherein one hemisphere of the brain specializes in some neural functions and cognitive processes over others. Those who have a tendency to hyperfocus, such as those with ADHD, may experience a form of "pseudoneglect" where attention is dominant on one side of the brain, leading to preferential attention in some neural connections and processes over others overall. [3] [4] While this idea is under study, it is not yet empirically proven. [5] [6] [7]

Hyperfocus may bear a relationship to the concept of flow. [2] In some circumstances, both flow and hyperfocus can be an aid to achievement, but in other circumstances, the same focus and behavior could be a liability, distracting from the task at hand. However, unlike hyperfocus, "flow" is often described in more positive terms, suggesting they are not two sides of the same condition under contrasting circumstance or intellect. [7]

Psychiatric symptom

Hyperfocus may in some cases also be symptomatic of a psychiatric condition. In some cases, it is referred to as perseveration [2] —an inability or impairment in switching tasks or activities ("set-shifting"), [8] or desisting from mental or physical response repetition (gestures, words, thoughts) despite absence or cessation of a stimulus. [9] [10] [11] [12] It is distinguished from stereotypy (a highly repetitive idiosyncratic behaviour). [1]

Conditions associated with hyperfocus or perseveration include neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those considered to be on the autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In ADHD, it may be a coping mechanism or a symptom of emotional self-regulation. So called "twice exceptional" people, with high intellect and learning disabilities, may have either or both of hyperfocus and perseverative behaviours. [2] [1] They are often mimicked by similar conditions involving executive dysfunction or emotional dysregulation, and lack of diagnosis and treatment may lead to further co-morbidity. [1]

ADHD

In ADHD, formulation and thinking can be slower than in neurotypical people (though this is not universal), and may be "long-winded or tangential". [1] [13] These inattentive symptoms occur dually with what has been termed "hyperfocus" by the 2019 Updated European Consensus Statement on Adult ADHD. [14] The over-concentration or hyperfocus often occurs if the person finds something "very interesting and/or provide(s) instant gratification, such as computer games or online chatting. For such activities, concentration may last for hours on end, in a very focused manner." [1]

ADHD is a difficulty in directing one's attention (an executive function of the frontal lobe), not a lack of attention. [15] [16] [17]

Conditions unlikely to be confused with hyperfocus often involve repetition of thoughts or behaviors such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, [18] and some cases of traumatic brain injury. [8]

Autism

Two major symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include repetitive sounds or movements and fixation on various things including topics and activities. [19] Hyperfocus in the context of ASD has also been referred to as the inability to redirect thoughts or tasks as the situation changes (cognitive flexibility). [20]

One suggested explanation for hyperfocus in those with ASD is that the activity they are hyperfocused on is predictable. Aversion to unpredictable situations is a characteristic of ASD, [21] while focusing on something predictable, they will have trouble changing to a task that is unpredictable. [19]

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental condition characterized by a disconnect from reality, including grandiose delusions, disorganized thinking, and abnormal social behavior. [22] Recently, hyperfocus has come into attention as a part of the cognitive symptoms associated with the disorder. In this use, hyperfocus is an intense focus on processing the information in front of them. This hypothesis suggests that hyperfocus is the reason those afflicted with schizophrenia experience difficulty spreading their attention across multiple things. [23]

Psychopathy

Some research, such as that of Naomi Sadeh and Edelyn Verona, published in Neuropsychology in 2008, [24] has suggested that psychopaths are hyperfocused on obtaining a reward and as a result their ability to use contextual cues, punishment or contextual information for adjusting their behaviour may be impaired. Moreover, they develop tunnel vision blocking out any peripheral stimulation (such as fear of achieving the goal). [25] [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Causes of mental disorders</span> Etiology of psychopathology

A mental disorder is an impairment of the mind disrupting normal thinking, feeling, mood, behavior, or social interactions, and accompanied by significant distress or dysfunction. The causes of mental disorders are very complex and vary depending on the particular disorder and the individual. Although the causes of most mental disorders are not fully understood, researchers have identified a variety of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that can contribute to the development or progression of mental disorders. Most mental disorders result in a combination of several different factors rather than just a single factor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</span> Neurodevelopmental disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by executive dysfunction occasioning symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and otherwise age-inappropriate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mood swing</span> Extreme or rapid change in mood

A mood swing is an extreme or sudden change of mood. Such changes can play a positive part in promoting problem solving and in producing flexible forward planning, or be disruptive. When mood swings are severe, they may be categorized as part of a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, where erratic and disruptive mood swings are a defining feature.

Developmental disorders comprise a group of psychiatric conditions originating in childhood that involve serious impairment in different areas. There are several ways of using this term. The most narrow concept is used in the category "Specific Disorders of Psychological Development" in the ICD-10. These disorders comprise developmental language disorder, learning disorders, motor disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. In broader definitions ADHD is included, and the term used is neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet others include antisocial behavior and schizophrenia that begins in childhood and continues through life. However, these two latter conditions are not as stable as the other developmental disorders, and there is not the same evidence of a shared genetic liability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorders</span> Medical conditions more common in autistic people

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that begin in early childhood, persist throughout adulthood, and affect three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of behavior. There are many conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy.

Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning symptoms must have been present in childhood except for when ADHD occurs after a traumatic brain injury. Specifically, multiple symptoms must be present before the age of 12, according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The cutoff age of 12 is a change from the previous requirement of symptom onset, which was before the age of 7 in the DSM-IV. This was done to add flexibility in the diagnosis of adults. ADHD was previously thought to be a childhood disorder that improved with age, but recent research has disproved this. Approximately two-thirds of childhood cases of ADHD continue into adulthood, with varying degrees of symptom severity that change over time and continue to affect individuals with symptoms ranging from minor inconveniences to impairments in daily functioning.

Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body's senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) is an attention syndrome characterised by prominent dreaminess, mental fogginess, hypoactivity, sluggishness, slow reaction time, staring frequently, inconsistent alertness, and a slow working speed. To scientists in the field, it has reached the threshold of evidence and recognition as a distinct syndrome.

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a standardized diagnostic test for assessing autism spectrum disorder. The protocol consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks that involve social interaction between the examiner and the person under assessment. The examiner observes and identifies aspects of the subject's behavior, assigns these to predetermined categories, and combines these categorized observations to produce quantitative scores for analysis. Research-determined cut-offs identify the potential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, allowing a standardized assessment of autistic symptoms.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive, is one of the three presentations of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 1987–1994, there were no subtypes or presentations and thus it was not distinguished from hyperactive ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III-R). In DSM-5, subtypes were discarded and reclassified as presentations of the same disorder that change over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior cingulate cortex</span> Caudal part of the cingulate cortex of the brain

The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is the caudal part of the cingulate cortex, located posterior to the anterior cingulate cortex. This is the upper part of the "limbic lobe". The cingulate cortex is made up of an area around the midline of the brain. Surrounding areas include the retrosplenial cortex and the precuneus.

Perseveration, in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and speech–language pathology, is the repetition of a particular response regardless of the absence or cessation of a stimulus. It is usually caused by a brain injury or other organic disorder. Symptoms include "lacking ability to transition or switch ideas appropriately with the social context, as evidenced by the repetition of words or gestures after they have ceased to be socially relevant or appropriate", or the "act or task of doing so", and are not better described as stereotypy.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder management options are evidence-based practices with established treatment efficacy for ADHD.

In psychology and neuroscience, executive dysfunction, or executive function deficit, is a disruption to the efficacy of the executive functions, which is a group of cognitive processes that regulate, control, and manage other cognitive processes. Executive dysfunction can refer to both neurocognitive deficits and behavioural symptoms. It is implicated in numerous psychopathologies and mental disorders, as well as short-term and long-term changes in non-clinical executive control. Executive dysfunction is the mechanism underlying ADHD Paralysis, and in a broader context, it can encompass other cognitive difficulties like planning, organizing, initiating tasks and regulating emotions. It is a core characteristic of ADHD and can elucidate numerous other recognized symptoms.

Childhood schizophrenia is similar in characteristics of schizophrenia that develops at a later age, but has an onset before the age of 13 years, and is more difficult to diagnose. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive symptoms that can include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech; negative symptoms, such as blunted affect and avolition and apathy, and a number of cognitive impairments. Differential diagnosis is problematic since several other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, language disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also have signs and symptoms similar to childhood-onset schizophrenia.

In psychiatry, stilted speech or pedantic speech is communication characterized by situationally inappropriate formality. This formality can be expressed both through abnormal prosody as well as speech content that is "inappropriately pompous, legalistic, philosophical, or quaint". Often, such speech can act as evidence for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a thought disorder, a common symptom in schizophrenia or schizoid personality disorder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypofrontality</span> State of decreased cerebral blood flow

Hypofrontality is a state of decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Hypofrontality is symptomatic of several neurological medical conditions, such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. This condition was initially described by Ingvar and Franzén in 1974, through the use of xenon blood flow technique with 32 detectors to image the brains of patients with schizophrenia. This finding was confirmed in subsequent studies using the improved spatial resolution of positron emission tomography with the fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) tracer. Subsequent neuroimaging work has shown that the decreases in prefrontal CBF are localized to the medial, lateral, and orbital portions of the prefrontal cortex. Hypofrontality is thought to contribute to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katya Rubia</span> British neuroscentist

Katya Rubia is a professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, both part of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan K. Buitelaar</span>

Jan K. Buitelaar is a Dutch medical doctor, psychiatrist, author, and academic. He is a professor of psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Radboud University Medical Centre and former Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Bradley S. Peterson is an American psychiatrist, developmental neuroscientist, academic and author. He is the Inaugural Director of the Institute for the Developing Mind at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), and holds the positions of Vice Chair for Research and Chief of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kooij, J. J. S.; Bijlenga, D.; Salerno, L.; Jaeschke, R.; Bitter, I.; Balázs, J.; Thome, J.; Dom, G.; Kasper, S. (1 February 2019). "Updated European Consensus Statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD". European Psychiatry. 56: 14–34. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.11.001 . hdl: 10651/51910 . ISSN   0924-9338. PMID   30453134.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Webb, James T.; Amend, Edward R.; Webb, Nadia E.; Goerss, Jean; Beljan, Paul; Olenchak, F. Richard (2005), Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, and Other Disorders, Scottsdale, AZ: Great Potential Press, Inc., pp. 50–51, ISBN   9780910707640, …there are no empirical data that support hyperfocus as an aspect of ADD/ADHD. In gifted children without ADD/ADHD, this rapt and productive attention state is described by Csikszentmihalyi (1990) as 'flow.' … What has been coined 'hyperfocus' in persons with ADD/ADHD seems to be a less medical-sounding description of perseveration. Thus the apparent ability to concentrate in certain limited situations does not exclude the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.
  3. ↑ Zou, Hongliang; Yang, Jian (6 December 2018). "Exploring the Brain Lateralization in ADHD Based on Variability of Resting-State fMRI Signal". Journal of Attention Disorders. 25 (2): 258–264. doi:10.1177/1087054718816170. PMID   30520697 – via Sage Publications.
  4. ↑ Helfer, Bartosz; Maltezos, Stefanos; Liddle, Elizabeth; Kuntsi, Jonna; Asherson, Philip (29 June 2020). "Lateralization of attention in adults with ADHD: Evidence of pseudoneglect". European Psychiatry: The Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. 63 (1): e68. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.68. ISSN   1778-3585. PMC   7443776 . PMID   32594941.
  5. ↑ Freed, Jeffrey; Parsons, Laurie (21 October 1998). Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780684847931.
  6. ↑ Pfabigan, Daniela M.; Tran, Ulrich S. (21 August 2015). Behavioral and Physiological Bases of Attentional Biases: Paradigms, Participants, and Stimuli. Frontiers Media SA. ISBN   9782889196401.
  7. 1 2 White, Holly A.; Shah, Priti (1 April 2006). "Uninhibited imaginations: Creativity in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder". Personality and Individual Differences. 40 (6): 1121–1131. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.007. ISSN   0191-8869.
  8. 1 2 Priory, "Psychiatric glossary".
  9. ↑ Winn, Philip, ed. (2001), "Perseveration", Dictionary of Biological Psychology, Taylor & Francis, p.  595, ISBN   9780415136068
  10. ↑ Helm-Estabrooks N (2004). "The problem of perseveration". Semin Speech Lang. 25 (4): 289–90. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-837241 . PMID   15599818.
  11. ↑ Grinnell, Renée (2008). "Perseveration". Psych Central. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Dictionary.com definition
  13. ↑ Goodin, Kate. "Famous People with ADHD". Parenting. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2013. David Neeleman, Founder of JetBlue Airways … reported in an interview with ADDitude magazine his ADHD prevents him from being detail-oriented and completing doing day-to-day tasks, saying, 'I have an easier time planning a 20-aircraft fleet than I do paying the light bill.'
  14. ↑ Kooij, J. J. S.; Bijlenga, D.; Salerno, L.; Jaeschke, R.; Bitter, I.; Balázs, J.; Thome, J.; Dom, G.; Kasper, S.; Filipe, C. Nunes; Stes, S.; Mohr, P.; Leppämäki, S.; Casas, M.; Bobes, J. (2019). "Updated European Consensus Statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD". European Psychiatry. 56 (1): 14–34. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.11.001. hdl: 10651/51910 . ISSN   0924-9338. Patients may also over-concentrate or 'hyperfocus'. This phenomenon most commonly occurs when engaged in activities that the patient finds very interesting and/or provide instant gratification, such as computer games or online chatting. For such activities, concentration may last for hours on end, in a very focused manner.
  15. ↑ 2012 Burnett Lecture Video, Part 1 of 3, Keynote Speaker: Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D. by UNCCHLearningCenter, retrieved Aug 2013
  16. ↑ 2012 Burnett Lecture, Video, Part 2 of 3, ADHD, Self-Regulation and Executive Functioning Theory, by UNCCHLearningCenter
  17. ↑ 2012 Burnett Lecture Video, Part 3 of 3, Q & A Dr. Russell Barkley by UNCCHLearningCenter - Streamed live on 1 November 2012 Sponsored by the Academic Success Program for Students with LD and ADHD — a UNC-Chapel Hill Learning Center Program in the College of Arts and Sciences — and the UNC General Alumni
  18. ↑ Brasic, James Robert (9 July 2012). "Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Differential Diagnoses". Medscape Reference.
  19. 1 2 Ashinoff, Brandon K.; Abu-Akel, Ahmad (2021). "Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention". Psychological Research. 85 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8 (inactive 3 May 2024). ISSN   0340-0727. PMC   7851038 . PMID   31541305.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of May 2024 (link)
  20. ↑ Geurts, Hilde M.; Corbett, Blythe; Solomon, Marjorie (1 February 2009). "The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism". Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 13 (2): 74–82. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.11.006. ISSN   1364-6613. PMC   5538880 . PMID   19138551.
  21. ↑ "Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  22. ↑ "Schizophrenia - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  23. ↑ Luck, Steven J; Hahn, Britta; Leonard, Carly J; Gold, James M (11 September 2019). "The Hyperfocusing Hypothesis: A New Account of Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia". Schizophrenia Bulletin. 45 (5): 991–1000. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbz063. ISSN   0586-7614. PMC   6737469 . PMID   31317191.
  24. ↑ Sadeh, Naomi; Verona, Edelyn (2008). "Psychopathic personality traits associated with abnormal selective attention and impaired cognitive control". Neuropsychology. 22 (5): 669–680. doi:10.1037/a0012692. ISSN   1931-1559. PMC   2538613 . PMID   18763886.
  25. ↑ Dotterer, Hailey L.; Hyde, Luke W.; Shaw, Daniel S.; Rodgers, Emma L.; Forbes, Erika E.; Beltz, Adriene M. (2020). "Connections that characterize callousness: Affective features of psychopathy are associated with personalized patterns of resting-state network connectivity". NeuroImage. Clinical. 28: 102402. doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102402. ISSN   2213-1582. PMC   7479442 . PMID   32891038.
  26. ↑ Worthington, Rachel; Wheeler, Suzanne (1 January 2023). "Hyperfocus and offending behaviour: a systematic review". The Journal of Forensic Practice. 25 (3): 185–200. doi:10.1108/JFP-01-2022-0005. ISSN   2050-8794.

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