Sustained attention is the ability to maintain focus and concentration on a single task or activity over an extended period of time, typically lasting several minutes or hours.

The prefrontal cortex, particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in sustained attention, as it is involved in executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and working memory.

Sustained attention involves maintaining focus on a single task or activity over an extended period, while selective attention involves the ability to focus on a specific stimulus or task while ignoring irrelevant or distracting stimuli.

Sustained attention can be affected by a variety of factors, including fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, boredom, lack of interest, distractions, and physical discomfort.

Sustained attention can be improved by adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep, managing stress, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and staying hydrated. Additionally, practicing mindfulness and taking breaks during long tasks can also help improve sustained attention.

Sustained attention is required for tasks that involve maintaining focus and concentration over an extended period of time, such as reading a book for an hour.

Selective attention is required for tasks that involve focusing on a specific stimulus or task while ignoring irrelevant or distracting stimuli, such as driving a car in heavy traffic, studying for an exam while ignoring distractions, or listening to a conversation in a noisy environment.

Sustained attention is a prerequisite for working memory, as it allows individuals to maintain information in their minds for a short period of time, which is necessary for working memory to function effectively.

Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) is the primary neurotransmitter involved in sustained attention, as it plays a crucial role in arousal, motivation, and focus.

Attentional drift refers to the gradual decline in sustained attention over time, leading to a decreased ability to maintain focus and concentration on a task.

Sustained attention can be improved through various techniques, including mindfulness meditation, cognitive training exercises, and taking frequent breaks.

Sustained attention can be affected by various disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and depression.

Alternating attention refers to the ability to switch between tasks quickly and efficiently, allowing individuals to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Alternating attention is required for tasks that involve switching between different tasks or activities, such as driving a car and talking to a passenger, studying for an exam while listening to music, or playing a video game while chatting with friends online.

Divided attention refers to the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, allowing individuals to handle multiple sources of information at once.