Psychological Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8 REVIEW Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention Brandon K. Ashinof1,3 · Ahmad Abu‑Akel2 Received: 24 January 2019 / Accepted: 9 September 2019 © The Author(s) 2019 Abstract ‘Hyperfocus’ is a phenomenon that refects one’s complete absorption in a task, to a point where a person appears to com- pletely ignore or ‘tune out’ everything else. Hyperfocus is most often mentioned in the context of autism, schizophrenia, and attention defcit hyperactivity disorder, but research into its efect on cognitive and neural functioning is limited. We propose that hyperfocus is a critically important aspect of cognition, particularly with regard to clinical populations, and that it warrants signifcant investigation. Hyperfocus, though ostensibly self-explanatory, is poorly defned within the literature. In many cases, hyperfocus goes undefned, relying on the assumption that the reader inherently knows what it entails. Thus, there is no single consensus to what constitutes hyperfocus. Moreover, some studies do not refer to hyperfocus by name, but describe processes that may be related. In this paper, we review how hyperfocus (as well as possibly related phenomena) has been defned and measured, the challenges associated with hyperfocus research, and assess how hyperfocus afects both neurotypical and clinical populations. Using this foundation, we provide constructive criticism about previously used methods and analyses. We also propose an operational defnition of hyperfocus for researchers to use moving forward. What is hyperfocus? and psychiatric populations, there is very limited explicit academic research into its efect on cognitive and neural Hyperfocus, broadly and anecdotally speaking, is a phenom- functioning. A Google Scholar search (excluding citations) enon that refects one’s complete absorption in a task, to a for hyperfocus and variations of the term, namely “hyper- point where a person appears to completely ignore or ‘tune focus”, “hyper focus”, “hyperfocusing”, “hyper-focusing”, out’ everything else. It is generally reported to occur when and “hyper focusing” in the title, returned 6 results. A a person is engaged in an activity that is particularly fun PubMed search for the same terms in the title or abstract or interesting. An example of hyperfocus is when a child returned 19 results. Of these, 7 are empirical studies explic- becomes engrossed in a video game to a point where they itly focused on assessing cognitive and neural states associ- do not hear a parent calling their name. Although most ated with hyperfocus (in ADHD: Sklar, 2013; Ozel-Kizil neurotypical people would likely report experiencing a et al., 2013, 2016; in schizophrenia: Luck et al., 2014; hyperfocus-like state at some point in their life, it is most Sawaki et al., 2017; Kreither et al., 2017; Hahn et al., 2016; often mentioned in the context of autism, schizophrenia, and Gray et al., 2014). An additional result is a paper that has attention defcit hyperactivity disorder—conditions that have developed a new questionnaire to assess hyperfocus experi- consequences on attentional abilities. Despite the experi- ences (Hupfeld, Abagis, & Shah, 2019). We also found 1 ence of hyperfocus being ubiquitous, in both neurotypical study that did not appear in our searches, but was cited in a couple of the papers cited above (Ozel-Kizil, 2013). This naturally leads to a simple question: why is there limited * Brandon K. Ashinof explicit research on an ostensibly common human cognitive [email protected] and perceptual experience? 1 Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 In this review, we will attempt to explain why hyperfocus Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA research has been so limited and we will assess if other phe- 2 Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Quartier nomena in the literature may essentially be hyperfocus going UNIL-Mouline, Geopolis, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland by another name. Based on this, we will propose a clear and 3 Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH), School testable operational defnition of hyperfocus. Finally, we will of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, assess if the defnitions of hyperfocus used in the psychiatric Birmingham B15 2TT, UK literature match our proposed operational defnition. Vol.:(0123456789)1 3 Psychological Research Why has hyperfocus been forgotten? nature of hyperfocus is such that a person must be com- pletely absorbed in a task that is interesting or fun. How- There are three major issues to consider. First, there is no ever, most cognitive psychology experiments do not meet clear general or operational defnition of hyperfocus in the this requirement. Even if subjects are able to enter into literature, which usually assumes that the reader inherently a hyperfocus state with some interesting activity, having knows what it is. As there is limited explicit literature on the them respond to a non-task relevant stimulus will break topic, references to and descriptions of hyperfocus are typi- them out of the hyperfocus state. This prevents monitor- cally anecdotal and can difer from paper to paper. Table 1 ing of cognitive functioning while the hyperfocus state is refects a comprehensive collection of how the few studies occurring, or at least makes it very difcult to do. that have explicitly studied hyperfocus have defned it, as Third, some studies do not refer to hyperfocus by name, well as a representative sample of references to hyperfocus but describe processes that appear to be related, such as in the ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia literature where “in the zone” and “fow”. For example, several research- it was not the explicit focus of research. For example, Kahl ers (e.g., Esterman, Noonan, Rosenberg, & DeGutis 2012, and Wahl (2006) reported that adults with ADHD could Esterman, Rosenberg & Noonan 2014; Fortenbaugh et al., “hyperfocus” on activities in which they have special inter- 2015; Kucyi, Hove, Esterman, Hutchison, & Valera, 2017) est but did not defne what cognitive or subjective experi- measured performance during a sustained attention task ences are associated with hyperfocusing. It is important to while participants were “in the zone”, a state defned by note that in most of these papers, these are the only refer- reduced variability in task performance. Dietrich (2004), ences or descriptions of hyperfocus at any point throughout on the other hand, assessed the neural correlates of “fow”, (with some exceptions; See Sklar, 2013), and they rarely defned subjectively as a state of intense concentration provide an operational defnition that can be tested. When with the loss of refective self-consciousness. However, it it is defned, it is rarely operationally defned in a way that is unclear if “in the zone” states, “fow” states, and “hyper- can be used for quantitative research. Ozel-Kizil et al. (2013; focus” states refect the same or distinct processes. also see Ozel-Kizil et al., 2014) defned hyperfocusing as This review was motivated by the lack of clarity and being “characterized by intensive concentration on interest- consistency across the academic literature with respect ing and non-routine activities accompanied by temporar- to hyperfocus. As such, we intend this paper to address ily diminished perception of the environment”. However, the following issues. First, has hyperfocus been explic- this defnition raises several questions, such as what defnes itly studied, just under a diferent name? Therefore, in something as interesting? Does it have to produce enjoy- the next section of this paper, we examine the literature ment, like a video game, or is an important homework on related phenomena, namely “in the zone” and “fow” assignment enough? And how is the perception of the envi- states—which at face value appear to instantiate the same ronment diminished? The exceptions to this are the papers in subjective experiences and behavioral efects—to evaluate the schizophrenia section of Table 1 (all of which come from if they refect a similar or distinct process from hyperfo- the same lab group and use the same operational defnition cus. It is important to note here that the notion of “in the of hyperfocus), but we will discuss these in further detail zone” reported in this review is distinct from the notion of later in the paper and assess if they provide an appropriate “in the zone” used in the fow literature—often to describe operational defnition. the fow experience. Here, when we refer to “in the zone”, Despite these issues, there appear to be four general we are referring to it as defned by Esterman et al. (2012, features or criteria of hyperfocus that are consistently 2014)—performance characterized by relatively low reported (Table 1): variability in response times. Notably, this highlights the importance of clarity, specifcity, and operational defni- 1. Hyperfocus is characterized by an intense state of con- tions in research. Second, we will propose an operational centration/focus. defnition of hyperfocus. And third, as hyperfocus is most 2. When engaged in hyperfocus, unrelated external stimuli often referenced in relation to psychiatric disorders, we do not appear to be consciously perceived; sometimes will then assess if patients with ADHD, autism, or schizo- reported as a diminished perception of the environment. phrenia exhibit hyperfocus-related symptoms relative to 3. To engage in hyperfocus, the task has to be fun or inter- our proposed operational defnition and if these