Study Shows Brain Focuses Broadly Before Narrowing to Fine Details

Recent research from the University of California, Davis has shed light on how our brain directs attention when preparing to perceive visual stimuli. Using electrical brain activity analysis combined with machine learning, scientists discovered that the brain initially activates neurons associated with broad categories of anticipated objects—such as movement or color—before honing in on specific features like the exact direction or hue. This hierarchical process begins with a rapid activation within approximately 240 milliseconds, where the brain prepares to process general features, and then proceeds to narrow focus on finer details within about 400 milliseconds.

The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, involved 25 participants aged 19 to 39, who were cued to look for colored dots moving in specific directions. Researchers tracked brain activity through EEG, capturing electrical signals with high temporal precision, and combined this data with eye tracking to analyze how attention shifts in anticipation of visual stimuli.

Professor George R. Mangun explained that this hierarchical organization of attentional focus resembles a pilot narrowing their focus from a broad flight path towards a specific destination, honing in on particular details as the process unfolds. The findings demonstrate that attention mechanisms are organized to first broadly prepare the brain then fine-tune perceptual processing.

This research has significant implications for understanding attention-related disorders. For instance, individuals with ADHD or autism might experience delays in this attentional narrowing process, potentially affecting perception and behavior. Understanding these neural dynamics offers the potential for developing targeted interventions to improve attentional control.

The methodology integrated EEG, eye tracking, and machine learning analysis, providing a detailed temporal map of how attention deploys across different stages. The study highlights the importance of the brain’s hierarchical approach to attention, which is crucial for efficient perception and may influence future research into cognitive and neurological disorders.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-brain-narrows-focus-broad-visual.html