What Makes Some Brains More Focused Than Others? | Marvin Chun | TEDxKFAS

Faced with overwhelming amounts of information and an increasing need to multitask, how can our brains focus on important tasks and avoid distractions? Cognitive neuroscience researcher Dr. Marvin Myungwoo Chun discusses why some people more attentive than others, allowing them to perform better at school, sports, and in the workplace. He also reveals the difference in our brains that explain superior performance, and gives tips on how to enhance our focus.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Learn more at tedxkfas.com
Dr. Marvin Myungwoo Chun is an award-winning cognitive neuroscience researcher and psychology professor who received the highest teaching prize at Yale University. He is the Richard M. Colgate Professor of Psychology at Yale, with joint appointments in the Cognitive Science Program and the School of Medicine Department of Neurobiology. He also serves as the John B. Madden Master of Berkeley College. He received his B.A. from Yonsei University, his Ph.D. from MIT and his postdoctoral training at Harvard. His research has been honored with early career awards from the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Psychological Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and as a scientific advisor on the NIKE (Sport) Performance Council.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@NikhilArora01]

To summarize he asking to: 1. Relax by doing anything like Yoga, Meditation etc. 2. Unitask. i.e. Kill Multi-tasking. 3. Simplify the tasks you are doing. You are welcome!

[@mistletoe91]

Thank you watching the video for me. It helped save my precious time & bandwidth

[@voodoo-doc]

thanks man :)

[@poopingbuffalo2095]

Nikhil Arora 👏👏👏👏

[@palashchandel]

Saved my 18 minutes. Thanks buddy

[@aatish8559]

Nikhil Arora Thanks for this, brother. I'm just 3 minutes in and I somehow find it uncomfortable to watch it all. But I couldn't take a risk of missing 10000 brain scan data. So thanks for summary.

[@MilnaAlen]

Your arousal can be too low even if you put in a lot of effort, especially if you suffer from trauma and dissociation. My therapist recommended breaks with fast paced exercise, cold water (drinking or on hands), bright lighting, cool rooms and strong smells. They really help a lot, I no longer feel like a zombie constantly. I actually get things done and learn, rather than spending hours every day without any results, and then getting everything done in panic at the last minute when my brain actually is awake.

[@NghiaTuanLe]

Very helpful

[@Felix-og7pd]

Cut noise

[@barcafeteria9946]

I am in the same situation , i feel awake in pánic or after provoking an incident i also feel more awake .

[@DP-yw4vk]

I cant even watch this video without scrolling through the comments and writing one myself 😭

[@jacky7878]

1. Relax by doing anything - breathe 2. focus on one task 3. Simplify the tasks you are doing.

[@WhisperedDesires]

Do you know that lofi music helps your brain to focus while studying or working and can actually improve productivity? Give it a try!

[@tristanreese3542]

You’re the goat

[@akiii9293]

Bro is Lori boy😂

[@geilkaushik]

Although we know the things already whatever he told , but the points he mentioned backed by examples and research findings helps us to grasp the importance of those points

[@belcenkci5588]

He is a great teacher! Don't miss this talk relying on the summaries!

[@nehamoharir9340]

Out of all the ted talks and other videos about attention, this is one of the best. Thanks

[@praveenvaggannavar1426]

He who knows does not speak he who speaks does not know. Go and type jiddu Krishnamurty about attention, awerness and insight in KZbin go to the depth or else it becomes temporary. Madam

[@audiomystic]

I really appreciate the summaries. They really help. Please keep doing them!

[@GoCanucks2011]

Everything you do - Everything you encounter - Everything you experience - ------- is changing your brain --------

[@SauravKumar-xg4zr]

Enjoyed each second of this video, Thanks Marvin for sharing your wonderful experiences.

[@HappySuni747]

He really simplifies it, In a simple style.

[@Jennifer-rq8qo]

Excellent and so true!! This is one of the best TED talks I have watched!

[@Skmuruli]

Thank you Ted ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು Ted

[@eyemagicnation]

PERFECT PRESENTATION. I LIKE THIS.

[@ron6625]

Have ADHD. Can confirm, I get through it at work by doing one thing at a time. I finish what I start, I move radially, but I always make sure I end in a spot that makes sense to pick up from. It took me years and a lot of expertise to figure out how to do it. The math question at the end took me 3 seconds. It was clear that it was 0 on both sides.

[@NghiaTuanLe]

Wow dude

[@MayankGangrade0]

Summary/Crux :- Challenge with modern society - Information overload and Distractions. Instant information at our disposal is both blessing and curse. We are living in attention deficit disorder society/economy. Your brain can only handle and attend one thing at time. You productivity and performance will start to go down if you try multiple things at once. Tip 1 - Simplify. Try to simplify what you attend to. There is too much information, control how much information that you have to pay attention to. Tip - 2 - Relax. Performance and productivity decline if we are too much aroused or stressed ( Better can be understood with Yerkes-dodson curve ). Take deep breathing. Try Mediation/ Yoga/Prayer/Exercise / Taking a walk in garden etc. Tip - 3 - Unitask. Your brain performs best when you are not multitasking. Don't check your phone, social media every five minutes.

[@mobk9774]

Thanks Marvin - that was really useful. Just what I needed!

[@kanzazaidi617]

Best ted talk I came across so far.

[@mitexz]

this is the main problem of todays life the continuous switching of information really distract your mind ,good research 👍

[@jesusrosariohernandez4823]

Very practical and eyeopener insights. Thanks for sharing this lifechanger talk!.

[@TheXuism]

It is very useful and scientific speech please stop blaming the speaker's tongue or gesture . it is a great speech!.

[@shanmugapriyamohan6481]

Amazing!! U have helped so much people with your work.

[@_Aurora777]

How to be more produtive at the job: 1. Simplify 2. Relax 3. Be unitask

[@SachinSingh-cd2ue]

its really helpful and i'm enjoying your tips .These three tips really helps people to be focused.

[@Broadway1982]

Brilliant stuff. Thank you!!

[@Jr-bi4tc]

It was simple, yet great. Thanks

[@DriveYorCareer]

One of the best Ted talks.

[@batoulalakkad6530]

Thank you for your precious talk , i will follow these tips from now on . Simplify Relax Unitask

[@MathiLeela]

Okay... I admit it KZbin Algorithm is the only one who knows me completely and what I am lagging, even better than myself!! 🤣

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Great interesting and informative talk. Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.

[@nevernotsnoozing6972]

Thankyou doctor ! This was soooo useful ! 🙂 Much Needed 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jayjani9002]

Brilliant presentation based on research and concrete evidences.......terrific presentation skills as well :)

[@kundanjha2529]

It's really a great lecture on attention of mind by giving some good illustrative example...Thank you Tedx...

[@ravikanthinala01]

One of the best tes talks i have heard!👍

[@rezaardiansyah6316]

I hope you this video will gain more views.. That's absolutely good

[@aaannkit]

Most underrated video on Tedx

[@rationalskeptic1]

I wish someone could give beneficial advice to us single parents of high needs, highly attached children who are literally unable to unitask a majority of the time. No matter what I do (coursework, work, housework, anything), I have a young child at my heels. Constant interruptions. Constant. I'd pay so much for a workable solution. I'd be paying for my sanity back! :)

[@MrRonisarkar]

Plan your day. Before planning observe your day. Most of the things will be repetitively happening on your daily life. You just don't see it yet as you don't observe properly. You say you have a kid. Good. I don't know what his age is but I am assuming he is between 5 to 10 proper age to be able to do house chores. That way he will be engaged in something as well as get a good habit of working. Don't give him heavy tasks but give him light tasks like arranging the cups and plates. At first he will be hesitant but with a little bit of strictness he will get the job done. As you say you are a single mother you already know how tough life is so preparing your child for it wouldn't be bad idea at all. Don't be overprotective with your son. And for you plan your day to day activities. Prioritize those job which are more important. Stick to the plan. Somedays you won't be able to work according to your plan. Don't worry it happens to everyone. Remember a plan is a promise to your future self. If you can't keep a promise you make to yourself how do you think you can keep promises that you make to others. So, hope this helps. And try to become rich. Money solves a lot of the problems that you might be facing right now.

[@rmtheepan009]

this video deserves more than that it has now.

[@sachinjaiswal2486]

Thankyou so much ..from now i will apply this method .

[@AmitGupta-hb2lg]

Just Amazing, Excellent talk

[@kareemmarshall6440]

Thanks for showing me why I'm more productive than others... and to think I was beating myself up for not being "engaged" for the better part of the day...

[@brijeshdhami8594]

Iegendary speech..!!! Thank you for sharing

[@GB58147]

Such a great talk!

[@HariKrishna-sc9un]

Thanks!! This is a very informative and good video

[@manikumarpsgvg3959]

Your work is to the point

[@souravsingha6696]

Thanks for he knowledge, going to share this to my colleague and friends.

[@johneric3886]

Good video. Excellent communication skills, good tone of voice and inflections. Keep up the good work.

[@nitishthakur8481]

Thank you so much......sir

[@sudarshanborpatragohain2467]

Thank you Prof Chun.

[@sonysen4174]

Loved it!

[@drsandhyathumsikumar4479]

Very helpful ..much appreciated

[@norcrisechavarria]

Excelent tips. I personally use them for I live with ADHD. So simplify, simplify symplify is my mantra. I`ve also deactivated all the phone notifications.. that helped a lot, now I am the one that goes to the phone.. and relax.. I am working on that everyday.. need to focus more..ups.. that is an executive dysfunction not related to attention... it is important not to confuse ADHD just thinking it is an attention problem. Excelent TT

[@palmoasis]

this was very useful, great talk

[@thanisaboocharam5472]

Very practical Simplify Relax and Unitask Thank you very much

[@Qatarlife2023]

Owsum perfect knowledge about human phycology

[@abbymd5670]

Why 'you using Peterson's voice tho?

[@dannymeechan1]

Abby MD bruh I was so confused when I first heard it lool

[@shubh_2733]

Exactly

[@cursedmale7490]

Haha.

[@gracez2723]

Hahahahaha

[@moelkady1074]

HAHAHA!

[@bigousbabashop]

Really great ideas, thanks 👏

[@mikely7354]

So basic but so hard to do... thank you!

[@LeLePanga]

Great lesson. Thanks

[@astrome7105]

Wow. Thanks for this ❤️

[@krittikaomsingh6490]

Amazing !

[@Mantim12458]

so big stories by great people, I will try to impart in my life.

[@gangstergastino4072]

beautifully said

[@thetruth3322]

Great suggestion, thank you for your work. Rk

[@user-ws9yi1bu2i]

very useful，especially the third one，unitasking doesnt mean there re only one thing left，but we can organize them，making the most important and making it finished first！maybe it is a good method for me to solve the anxiety because of work😄

[@bharatjha9873]

To the point perfect speech

[@shrav143]

very interesting. thanks for sharing

[@rajcan2008]

First time I watched the Ted talk without scrolling for the comments. Still I missed a lot of tests shown on the video. This shows the level of focus required. Multitasking is a myth.

[@halimhdd5554]

thank u Dr its very useful ..

[@debapriyamahata4309]

Brilliant work

[@nobertstanel9428]

Last tip about multitasking vs unit tasking was great.

[@ankam6472]

Brilliant! So this is why I'm so tired and unsatisfied of my work, operating at the same time in four different areas of my branch, switching them for a call.. My brain is quite normal, hurra! :) It was worth to focus on the content of this presentation, not on the body language and voice ;)

[@ns.narayani03]

Brilliant mind. Good job man!

[@sulaickeklopper9900]

That was awesome!

[@dm.25]

Guys we always need things like this

[@bernardoparilla1074]

the best and easy to follow exercise to improve your focus,

[@mikesperience]

Why not a million views for this ??

[@ahmedb2559]

Thank you

[@gustavomartinez6892]

Absolutely useful

[@priyankchaturvedi6224]

Thank you.....

[@RehabWH]

Thank you, you look like a smart guy actually..so I am convinced.

[@JConestar]

Thanks so much for sharing this video! Learned a lot and will start applying the tips right away!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👌👌

[@ashwinph]

Great Ted talk.

[@thegeneralcategory2792]

thank you

[@Mevlinous]

So prioritise and execute

[@RobWilliams007]

Excellent.

[@onengnina9367]

Very interesting presentation.

[@archgloom]

➡ Simplify ➡ Relax ➡ Unitask

[@sammy143two]

wow ! this is really helpful. we should just unitask. thumbs up for this video and share it among your friends 😊

[@charleswachira3951]

wow an excllent presentation

[@AmarSingh-by2rc]

Thnk u very much sr

[@RobWilliams007]

I agree with the only being able to concentrate on one thing at a time. I could never really truly multi task - yes, I can throw a load of laundry in and then go mow the lawn while the washer is going but can’t actually do two things. I am reading the book, “The One Thing”, and Gary Keller talks about how multi-tasking is a myth and the funny thing is, corporations want you to “multi-task”. That makes you so much less efficient.

[@benitadsilva7069]

Superb presentation 👏 👌

[@Star-vg7ix]

Excellent video

[@comsystechnologies5225]

I wish the tip about how to simply task was more elaborate. Relax and unitask was explained so well.

[@JustinVarghese]

very great speech

[@curioussaroj3983]

just awesome

[@sehrishjabbar4321]

Vert well presented!

[@paulreader1777]

ADD is creative, innovative but it also allows for great focus and attention.

[@vaibhavsharma3012]

Nice talk Sir!