1 Article by Benjamin T Sharpe

The Sustained Attention Paradox: A Critical Commentary on the Theoretical Impossibility of Perfect Vigilance.

Cognitive science – April 01, 2025

Summary

Maintaining perfect vigilance is a cognitive challenge; even the most skilled individuals experience attention lapses over time. This commentary highlights how our neural and cognitive limitations make sustained attention difficult. It advocates for designing human-technology systems that complement these constraints, enhancing performance in critical tasks.

Abstract

The human capacity for sustained attention represents a critical cognitive paradox: while essential for numerous high-stakes tasks, perfect vigilan...