---
title: How attention works
description: How does attention work? Focus involves a series of steps that seem pretty simple. But some people struggle with the process of paying attention.
slug: how-attention-works
author: Peg Rosen
reviewer: Nelson Dorta, PhD
published: '2019-08-05T15:50:28.365Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/7aDcLAS49Gsz1bF6r3tzeC/cc4c6eacbc11e70769e030f667bbfb3c/G1168467087.png
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-attention-works
lang: en
---

# How attention works

Paying attention may seem like a single action or skill. But it’s actually a process that involves a number of steps.

Attention is like a funnel that lets people select and take in useful information. Once the information is in, the brain can make sense of it and store it in memory to be used later. (This type of memory is called working memory.)

There are four steps to paying attention:

1. Being aware, alert, and ready to take in information. 
2. Choosing what to pay attention to as information comes in. 
3. Ignoring distractions to focus on what you’re doing.
4. Shifting focus back to a task if you’ve been distracted.

These steps may seem simple. But they’re not always easy. Young kids may need more time to develop the necessary skills. And some people, including those with [ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-adhd), may have trouble with attention into adulthood.

---

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