TED Talks Daily Interview: What happens in your brain when you pay attention? with Dr. Sasha Hamdani | from TED Health
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Jan 3, 2026 
Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar, a computational neuroscientist, explores how our brains prioritize attention and filter distractions. He discusses brainwave patterns and how they can be modeled to aid those with ADHD and communication struggles. Drawn from personal experience, he dreams of using technology to translate thoughts into speech. Joining him, Dr. Sasha Hamdani, an ADHD specialist, reframes ADHD beyond mere distraction, highlighting strengths like hyperfocus. She also addresses the rising diagnosis rates and advocates for greater understanding and support.
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Attention Is Also A Filtering Process
- Attention is as much about filtering out distractions as it is about focusing on one thing.
- Covert attention shows frontal brain activity that acts as a filter on sensory input.
Frontal Cortex Modulates Covert Attention
- Covert attention evokes both flicker rates in visual signals but strengthens the attended one.
- The frontal cortex appears to enhance the attended signal and inhibit the ignored one.
Train Filtering With Brain-Computer Games
- Train the brain's filtering via targeted computer games using brain-computer interfaces.
- Use these exercises to strengthen inhibition of distractors for conditions like ADHD.
