Lately I’ve been curious about how current adult-learning methods address attention challenges in neurodivergent learners. As I dig into research on ADHD and attention economics, I’m struck by how traditional approaches often work against our natural cognitive patterns rather than with them.
The research around attention in ADHD isn’t new, but it continues to validate what many of us experience. Studies confirm that cognitive load affects ADHD brains differently—increasing mental demands reduces performance and network efficiency, while increasing visual complexity can actually enhance focus (Fisher et al., 2023). And under high perceptual load—when tasks are richly engaging—distraction in ADHD can actually decrease (Forster et al., 2014).
That helps explain the seemingly contradictory nature of ADHD attention—why complex, visually rich environments can support focus even as supposedly “simple” tasks deplete our resources. This attention fatigue has measurable impacts on decision-making capacity (Ohly et al., 2016) and appears across demographic groups (Rosch et al., 2015).
Research points to visual richness as an ally—not a distraction—to be leveraged as a tool for focus. This flips the traditional narrative that simplification always equals better attention.
What techniques have you found most effective in managing your attention resources in high-demand work environments?
#ADHD #NeurodiverseMinds #CognitiveScience #AttentionManagement
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