Top-Down Attention
Voluntary attention directed by goals, intentions, and conscious choice.
Also known as: Endogenous attention, Goal-directed attention, Voluntary attention
Category: Concepts
Tags: attention, cognition, focus, self-control, psychology
Explanation
Top-down attention (also called endogenous or goal-directed attention) is the voluntary direction of attention based on goals, intentions, and conscious priorities. Unlike bottom-up attention (captured by stimuli), top-down attention is controlled - you choose what to focus on. It enables: searching for specific items, maintaining focus despite distractions, and directing cognitive resources toward priorities. Top-down attention draws on executive functions and prefrontal cortex activity. It's effortful and depletable - maintaining focus against competing stimuli requires cognitive resources that fatigue over time. Top-down attention is strengthened by: clear goals (knowing what to attend to), practice (trained attention is more stable), and reduced competition (fewer distracting stimuli). For knowledge workers, strengthening top-down attention means: clarifying priorities before starting, reducing environmental distractions, and recognizing that willpower-based focus is limited - environmental design supports what willpower cannot sustain.
Related Concepts
← Back to all concepts