The MInD Group investigates the cognitive and brain mechanisms of attention and distraction. To better understand these processes, we study motivation and a range of cognitive functions, including cognitive control, working memory and decision-making.
Using behavioral experiments, EEG, fMRI, and computational approaches, we seek to understand why attention fluctuates, why some individuals are more vulnerable to distraction than others, and how concentration can be improved.
How does motivation influence attention and concentration?
Motivation is often assumed to improve performance, yet it can also create competition between goals that increases distractibility (e.g., the goal-competition Theory; Chidharom et al., 2026 PsyArXiv).
We study how rewards, penalties, incentives, and opportunity costs shape attention and cognitive control. Our work explores how motivational processes help people stay focused—or sometimes make distraction more likely.
Why does our attention fluctuate?
Attention is not constant. Even during simple tasks, people naturally alternate between periods of strong focus and moments of vulnerability to distraction.
Our research aims to identify the behavioral, subjective, and brain states that predict lapses of attention.
Why are some individuals more distractible than others?
Although distraction is universal, people differ dramatically in their ability to maintain focus.
A major goal of the lab is to understand how individual differences and mental health influence attentional control.
We investigate factors such as ADHD symptoms, anxiety, depression and psychosis to understand why some individuals are particularly vulnerable to distraction.
How can we improve concentration?
Our long-term goal is to develop methods that help people maintain focus more effectively. By combining neurofeedback with machine learning, and behavioral interventions, we aim to predict attentional failures and design strategies to prevent them.
