Hebrew University Research Reveals Brain Focuses in Rhythmic Bursts to Manage Sensory Overload

Recent research led by cognitive neuroscientist Prof. Ayelet N. Landau at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that human attention does not operate in a continuous stream but in rhythmic bursts, a process termed "attentional sampling." The brain takes rapid mental snapshots approximately eight times per second when focusing on a single object, and this rate halves to about four times per second when attention is split between two stimuli. This flickering focus mechanism helps manage sensory overload by alternating attention between competing visual inputs, resolving neural competition rather than selecting a single winner. The findings challenge the traditional notion of smooth, continuous attention and have broad implications for understanding cognition, interface design, education, and neurological treatments. Aligning with these insights, other neuroscience research emphasizes aligning work with the brain’s natural ultradian rhythms of focus and fatigue, suggesting that scheduling deep work in 90-minute blocks followed by breaks can optimize productivity and reduce stress. Together, these studies underscore the brain's dynamic and rhythmic nature in managing attention and performance.