Attention floats in real time. It is in play from nanosecond to nanosecond. Attractors in the environment can ‘attract’ our attention. We can wilfully override a spontaneous response to an attractor, or a system of filters can operate without any overt willing on our part. The brain in all its wonder is at all times doing its best to help us manage our affairs.

On entering a room, we might note the decor, people moving about or displays on tables. The filtering system of most of us will not take note of the geometry of ceiling tiles. Our brain, without any effort on our part, filters out irrelevant information in an environment.

From nanosecond to nanosecond, anyones ‘attention’ may be potentially attracted. To sustain attention willfully, resistance to attractors must applied for consecutive nanoseconds. This is exhausting work. Thankfully, given particular conditions an effective filtering system can evolve relieving us of the burden of that work.

Particular environmental conditions facilitate the development of an effective filtering system. Much that is commonplace in the lives of children today reduce the likelihood of development of an effective filtering system. However, a child’s brain system continues to evolve until adulthood. Much can be done to create conditons conducive to the development of an effective filtering system in home, school and therapeutic settings.

Development of an effective filtering system permits performance of cognitive operations that facilitate the developement of high levels of intellectual functioning.