The Attentive Mind

Course Description

In today's society, we are bombarded daily with more information than our brains can possibly process. It is widely accepted that attention plays a critical role in our ability to manage this information overload. In this course, we will review recent advances in understanding how attention works - how it determines the content of our conscious awareness and impacts our learning, problem-solving, interpersonal interaction, and social behavior. We will review common influences known to impede attention and examine how attention is compromised in certain clinical disorders. Given that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a widely known yet often misunderstood entity, we will review in some detail the fascinating historical origins and evolution of the diagnosis and examine the key controversies that have surrounded its conceptualization, identification, biological basis, and treatment. As there is no scientific consensus for some of the topics to be covered, the course will encourage critical thinking with the aim of separating fact and myth. We will then discuss techniques for improving attention as well as approaches to avoid.

Code

CSCD 0841

Credits

3

Subject

CSCD