Attention relies on the sensory receptors in our brain that process hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste. It corresponds to way mind processes an external event (a sound, image, smell) or an internal event (a thought or feeling) and then sustains this event at a certain level of awareness [1]. There are many types of attention. Most important for students is sustained attention (how long student can focus on a task for a continuous stretch of time) .

There is a need to strengthen attention through different techniques such as mental exercises.

Objective: Improve Sustained Attention using Mobile-based Candle Gaze Application.

Benefits: The exercise will help participant improve the sustained attention after practicing candle watching exercise and will help user perform better in studies. After completion of study, we will share the potential implications of the results of the study with participants.

Method:

• Day 1: Initial Letter Cancellation Test to get base attention value.

Upload Cancellation Test here

• Day 1- 10: Candle Gaze exercise for 1-5 min to practice and improve attention.

Upload Candle Gaze Video here

• Day 10: Final Letter Cancellation Test to get final attention value.

Upload Cancellation Test here

Requirements:

• mFlameGaze app: Android phone (other versions to be developed soon)
• Letter Cancellation Web Test: Preferably on a PC

General Instructions:

1. You are advised to perform the candle focus test and/or letter cancellation test in the morning, when you feel fresh.
2. Current app requires user to use the mobile app in a proximity of around 2.5 ft at level of eye. Device must be kept stable. User should remove specs and use the app. Limitation will be improved further.
3. The lighting of the surrounding area should be uniform when you're performing the candle focus test. Do not face sunlight directly, and do not sit in a dark room.
4. Before starting any test, close your eyes, take deep breaths for a minute and relax.
5. Keep the mobile screen raised at with camera at level of your eye. Prefer to keep on a back rest or hand if you can keep it still for long.
6. On the app screen, you have to register and set the timer to 1-5 minutes, start the test by pressing the red button. When timer goes off, stop the test.
7. Keeps eyes wide open and focus pupil on the black dot below the flame tip. You can blink but try to keep pupils fixed on the black dot.
8. Upload the video for gaze processing. Results will be mailed to you within 24 hrs.
9. Confidentiality: Your participation in this study will remain confidential, and your identity will not be stored with your data. Your responses will be assigned a code number, and the list connecting your name with this number will be kept in a locked room and will be destroyed once all the data have been collected and analyzed. This is not a competition and only objective is to help user train to improve self sustained attention.
10. There are NO risks associated with participating in this study, as consulted with a clinical psychologist and neurologist from IHBHAS, Delhi.

Details about software:

• Download mFlameGaze Application for Android phone here:
• Measure attention through letter cancellation test

Letters will be displayed on the computer screen and you will be given a particular letter to click on. You will do your best to click on as many of the given letters as possible. Respond by clicking mouse buttons.

To participate in the study and see the improvement in your attention please fill the volunteer form here

(Inviting students of age group 10-18 years to participate)

References:

[1] Improving and Increasing Attention Skills,

https://www.happyneuronpro.com/en/info/improving-increasing-attention-skills/

[2] Your Concentration Training Program: 11 Exercises That Will Strengthen Your Attention, https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/your-concentration-training-program-11-exercises-that-will-strengthen-your-attention/

[3] Raghavendra and Singh, “"Immediate effect of yogic visual concentration on cognitive performance “, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, vol 1, issue 1, pp 34-36, 2016

[4] Mallick and Kulkarni, “The Effect of Trataka, a Yogic Visual Concentration Practice, on Critical Flicker Fusion”, J Altern Complement Med. Vol 16(12), 2010

[5] Lippelt, et. al, “Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity – A review”, Front. Psychol., 2014