TMHS 720: Improve Your Focus, Promote Neuroplasticity, & Increase Your Attention Span - with Dr. Adam Gazzaley
Sep 11, 2023
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Dr. Adam Gazzaley, a neurology professor, discusses the impact of technology on attention span and cognition. He shares details about a video game treatment for ADHD, the importance of disconnecting from technology, and how single-tasking improves flow state. They also explore the role of thoughts and emotions in health, limitations of drug targeting in the brain, and the power of experiential medicine.
Video games can be used as a tool to improve attention and cognitive function.
Video games represent a novel form of experiential medicine that can promote positive changes in cognitive function.
Integrating video games into mainstream healthcare requires reshaping perceptions, expanding the current model of medicine, and further research, education, and collaboration.
Deep dives
Video games as a tool for improving attention and cognition
Video games have been traditionally seen as a source of distraction and a cause of reduced attention span. However, recent research has shown that video games can actually be used as a tool to improve attention and cognitive function. By designing games that challenge the brain's multitasking abilities, researchers have found that individuals who engage in these games show improvements in attention and the ability to resist distractions. The games push the brain to rapidly switch attention and resist distractions, ultimately leading to better single-tasking abilities. These improvements have been observed in diverse populations, including children with ADHD, adults with depression, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Notably, these improvements extend beyond the game itself and have been reported in daily activities, highlighting the potential real-world benefits of video game-based interventions. One example is a video game called Endeavor RX, which recently gained FDA approval as a medical device for treating inattention in children with ADHD. This groundbreaking approval opens up new possibilities for the use of video games as therapeutic tools in addressing cognitive and attention-related challenges.
Challenging the traditional concept of medicine
The traditional concept of medicine often revolves around pharmaceuticals and the treatment of symptoms. However, the field of medicine is much broader and encompasses a wide range of interventions. Experiential medicine, for instance, recognizes the role of experiences in promoting health and well-being. Practices such as meditation and mindfulness have long been used as experiential medicine to alleviate suffering and improve mental health. Video games, specifically designed to enhance attention and cognition, represent a novel form of experiential medicine. By leveraging the brain's neuroplasticity, video games offer a unique opportunity to promote positive changes in cognitive function. The recent FDA approval of video games as a medical device for attention-related challenges signifies a paradigm shift in how we perceive and utilize medicine. It highlights the potential of technology-based interventions to complement traditional pharmaceutical approaches and offers a glimpse into the future of personalized and experiential medicine.
Overcoming challenges and embracing the potential of video game-based interventions
While video games hold promise as therapeutic tools, there are important challenges to address in integrating them into mainstream healthcare. The prevailing perception of video games as mere entertainment or distractions needs to be reshaped to recognize their potential as tools for cognitive improvement. Additionally, the current model of medicine focused primarily on pharmaceutical interventions should be expanded to embrace alternative approaches, including experiential interventions like video games. Further research, education, and collaboration between stakeholders such as healthcare providers, insurers, and regulators are essential to fully unlock the potential of video game-based interventions. The recent FDA approval of Endeavor RX is a significant step forward, but more work is needed to ensure widespread adoption and integration of video games into healthcare. By challenging existing paradigms, embracing technological innovations, and harnessing the power of experiential medicine, we can revolutionize approaches to cognitive health and improve the lives of individuals facing attention and cognitive challenges.
Using Technology to Improve Mental Health
The speaker discusses the potential of using technology to create targeted personalized experiences that harness the brain's plasticity to improve mental health. They emphasize that while video games may have their own troubles, they can be used in a way that is fun and engaging to create positive experiences. The speaker shares that their goal in building video games is to challenge the brain in specific ways to improve attention and cognitive function. They highlight the importance of creating games that are immersive, rewarding, and designed intentionally to improve specific cognitive systems.
Experiential Medicine and Targeted Neuroplasticity
The speaker explains the concept of experiential medicine, which focuses on using experiences to target and activate specific neurological networks in the brain. They contrast this approach with traditional pharmaceutical models that often lack specificity in targeting desired neural networks. The speaker emphasizes that the brain's plasticity and ability to change relies on interactions and experiences, rather than a simple chemical imbalance or isolated neurotransmitter levels. They highlight the value of experiences, such as physical fitness, sleep hygiene, stress management, and nutrition, in improving overall brain health and cognitive function.
In our fast-paced, technology-centric society, it’s easy to focus on the ways in which our devices are making us more distracted and disconnected. But what if we harnessed the power of technology for good? What if we could utilize technology in a way that could promote neuroplasticity and improve cognition?
Today’s guest, Dr. Adam Gazzaley, is the founding director of Neuroscape at University of California, San Francisco and a professor in neurology, physiology, and psychiatry. He is also the chief scientific advisor and board member at Akili, a company that is dedicated to changing the landscape of cognitive medicine. In this interview, Dr. Gazzaley is sharing the details behind the first-of-its-kind treatment for ADHD—a video game experience.
In this interview, we’re going to talk about the importance of harnessing your attention and how technology can impact your attention span. You’ll learn about the future of experiential medicine, how to improve cognition and neuroplasticity, and so much more. I hope you enjoy this interview with the incredible Dr. Adam Gazzaley!
In this episode you’ll discover:
Why our attention is our most valuable asset.
The challenges that our technology-driven world has created for our brains.
How accessibility to technology changed our attention spans.
Why humans are essentially cyborgs.
The importance of disconnecting from technology.
How your brain handles single-tasking vs. multitasking.
Why awareness about the inefficacy of multitasking is critical.
How to make single-tasking gratifying.
Why technology is a double-edged sword.
What neuroplasticity is, and how it occurs.
The link between neuroplasticity and technology.
How video games can improve cognition.
Why experiences can target systems in the brain.
The difference between molecular medicine and experiential medicine.
Why “chemical imbalance” is an oversimplification.
The history of the first FDA approved video game.
What experiential medicine is.
Why the placebo effect works.
Other important modalities for improving mental health.
