Do we really see everything going on around us? We may feel we do, but the reality is that our conscious attention—the part of our brain that can focus and actively ‘think’—is limited. Of all the information coming into our brain at any one time, we can only pay attention to less than 1%.
This is the cause of a phenomenon called ‘inattentional blindness’—the ‘blind spots’ created by our brain’s limitations. This means that from time to time, we will miss things. We may also overlook changes in our environment, even when they happen right in front of us.
The Concentration Test
Think you’re pretty switched on? Put your concentration to the test with our new video:
This simple activity shows there’s a limit to what our brain can handle. It emphasises our need to consciously consider what we focus on, especially at times of increased risk.
What blind spots do you need to manage today?