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Revision as of 14:10, 31 March 2005
Hyperfocus is a mental state of mind often associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a human psychiatric disorder often diagnosed in childhood which is thought to continue into adulthood for about 30% of individuals, and is then commonly known as adult attention-deficit disorder (AADD).
Most people with ADHD have a tendency to "hyperfocus" - focus very strongly on something which interests them. ADHD is a neurological difference that makes it very difficult to attend to things which are not interesting to the person involved. For a person with ADHD, the harder he/she tries to concentrate/focus on something that is not interesting to that person, the harder it becomes to do so. The part of the brain used for focusing shuts down. When that same person is working on something that is interesting, it can be almost impossible to get that person to switch attention elsewhere.
To some individuals, hyperfocus may be the best positive thing about ADHD. When they are "in gear", they claim to be very happy and may be very creative. Many of history's most famous and creative persons are thought to have had ADHD and displayed hyperfocus in their behavior.
See also
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD and ADHD)
- Adult attention-deficit disorder (adult ADD or AADD)
- List of famous people and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- hunter vs. farmer theory