Human Attention Span Is Now Shorter Than A Goldfish

Surprisingly, Humans now have shorter attention spans than a goldfish.

The new finding by Microsoft suggests that the little fish can concentrate for 9 seconds compared to 8 for humans unbelievable but true.

The researchers looked at three different types of attention: 

• One is Sustained attention which is the ability to focus on just one task continously; 
• Second is Selective attention which has the ability to respond when there is a distraction
• Third is Alternating attention like multitasking.

The researchers has asked around 2,000 Canadians to take an online survey, play test games and have their brain electricity measured.

The researchers has found that the increased use of digital devices has lessens our sustained attention but it doesn’t affect our selective attention it actually improves our alternating attention. That only means that we are less able to focus on just one task, but we are getting better at doing multiple tasks at once.

The report says that the human attention span has decreased by 4 seconds since year 2000 — and that technology  innovations may be blame.


"Ten years ago, the only thing I checked was my phone and my one email," says Dr. Larry Rosen, an expert in technology addiction and professor at California State University. "Now it's a constant need to check in that's causing our problem. It's anxiety about not keeping up.