@jens-madsen.bsky.social
Maybe today’s attention problems aren’t about the student.
They’re about the world they’re learning in.
Today’s learners grew up with short-form media.
They’re not losing attention - they’re adapting.
📄 tinyurl.com/iscvideo
📄 jensmadsen.com
Even students with high inattention traits learned effectively - when the material kept them engaged.
We found that
🧠 Brain synchrony during videos influenced test scores.
💤 Trait inattention did not influence test scores.
📚 Working memory and GPA did.
When students paid attention, their brain activity synchronized with others watching the same video.
When distracted by a mental task, that synchrony dropped.
That’s how we know this brain signal truly reflects momentary attention.
We recorded students’ brain activity (EEG) while they watched 3-6 min educational videos.
Then we compared their brain synchrony (a measure of attention) with:
🧩 Trait inattention & hyperactivity (ADHD)
🧠 Working memory capacity
📚 GPA
📝 Quiz performance
When students learn from short educational videos, it’s not long-term “trait inattention” that influences learning - it’s their momentary focus while watching. 🧠
16.10.2025 19:13 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0In our new study, “Attentional state, not trait, predicts test performance in video-based learning,” with @lcparra.bsky.social , now out in @cp-iscience.bsky.social ,
Open access: tinyurl.com/iscvideo
We talk about an “attention crisis,” blaming poor academic performance on students’ attention deficits.
But are long-term traits (ADHD symptoms) really to blame? Or is it our immediate focus?
We test this - by measuring brain-to-brain synchrony as students learned from short educational videos. 🧠
As we listen to good stories over the holidays, did you know that our eyes move, pupils dilate and heart rate goes up and down in unison with the people that listen to the same story?
Check out these videos and tell me, what makes our eyes move?
jensmadsen.com/synchronized...
