Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 25

FEATURESTORY

Sleights-of-Learning:
Neuroscience, Attention and Memory
I By Merrill Collier

W

hat if we could
control someone's
attention?
Influence memory? After a
training program, what do
you hope for least to occur?
Most to occur? We don't
want participants to walk
out of the room and forget
everything. We do want
them to remember the key
points that will drive
revenue.
The primary goal is to
create memorable learning
with impact. But, how do we
curate experiences that
remain in the mind and
transform behavior to
produce impactful results?
To answer this, we need a
deeper understanding of the
neuroscience principles
relating to attention and
memory that impact
learning and cognitive
adoption.

The Focus Challenge
Studies of college students have
shown they can focus for only 10 to 18
minutes before their minds begin to
drift. That's when their brains need to
make use of new information; for
example, use it to make a connection or
solve a problem. It's a challenge to hold
anyone's attention for prolonged
periods of time. There is the irresistible
urge to check the iPad or iPhone, text,
email, Facebook. There is a lingering
sense one might be missing something.

FOCUS | WINTER 2014 | www.spbt.org

The mind can only focus
on one thing at a time.
Computers can parallel
process. Humans cannot.

How do you think this multitude of
distractions impacts our audiences'
ability to stay focused?
Douglas Rushkoff claims technology
has changed our relationship to time
and negatively impacted our cognitive
attention "staying power." We suffer
from "present shock": The human
response to living in a world that is
always on, real-time and simultaneous.
This pressure to exist in multiple places
at once, when everything is happening
now is a sort of "digiphrenia." Every

vibration of the phone might pull us
out of whatever we're doing into
something that seems more pressing at
the moment. The neurological reality,
however, is that the mind can only
focus on one thing at a time.
Computers can parallel process.
Humans cannot. This explains the
perils of texting and driving.
Magicians are masters at exploiting
the neurological limitations of
attention. Accomplished magicians use
robust attention manipulation
25



http://www.spbt.org

Focus Magazine - Winter 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Focus Magazine - Winter 2014

Focus Magazine
From the President: Career Paths to Success
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Guest Editor: The New Frontier
Front of the Room: Swaying an Audience
Viewpoint: Health Insurance Exchanges
Racing to Success: 2013 Medical Device & Diagnostic Trainers Summit Recap
Redesigning Learning: Astellas Gives 'Live' a New Look
Sleights-of-Learning: Neuroscience, Attention and Memory
Measuring Experience: Scorecards & Simulations
Virtual Impact: Converting to VILT
Member Solutions: Developing Field-Based Trainers
What Makes Virtual Leadership So Hard?
Facing Negativity in Sales
Virtual How: Learning Management System Trends
Member News
Ad Index
Focus Contacts
5 Questions with Dr. Beverly Kaye
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Intro
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Focus Magazine
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover2
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 3
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 4
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - From the President: Career Paths to Success
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 6
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Table of Contents
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 8
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Table of Contents
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 10
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Guest Editor: The New Frontier
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 12
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Front of the Room: Swaying an Audience
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 14
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Viewpoint: Health Insurance Exchanges
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Racing to Success: 2013 Medical Device & Diagnostic Trainers Summit Recap
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 17
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 18
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Redesigning Learning: Astellas Gives 'Live' a New Look
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 20
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 21
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 22
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 23
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 24
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Sleights-of-Learning: Neuroscience, Attention and Memory
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 26
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 27
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 28
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Measuring Experience: Scorecards & Simulations
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 30
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 31
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Virtual Impact: Converting to VILT
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 33
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Member Solutions: Developing Field-Based Trainers
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 35
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 36
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 37
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - What Makes Virtual Leadership So Hard?
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 39
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 40
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 41
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Facing Negativity in Sales
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 43
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Virtual How: Learning Management System Trends
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 45
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 46
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Member News
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Ad Index
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Focus Contacts
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - 5 Questions with Dr. Beverly Kaye
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover3
Focus Magazine - Winter 2014 - Cover4
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