I can't concentrate
Is it because of my brain and not me?

What a neuroscientist says
Hidden deep in my head
How to find your focus switch

We've all probably had the experience of being unable to concentrate while working or studying, so we kept looking away or doing something else on our smartphones or computers.
So, when we don't get good grades or can't finish work on time, we tend to blame ourselves, saying it was because we lacked mental strength or willpower.
But did you know that it was actually my brain that was the problem?

The author, an authority on Japanese brain science research and author of numerous books on the brain, argues in this book that the eight brain regions, called "brain bungees," are each responsible for different types of concentration, and that we can ultimately achieve concentration only when we create a state in which the brain can sufficiently concentrate so that these regions are organically connected and work together.
Through this book, let's learn how to discover and turn on the concentration switch in our brain that we didn't know existed.

Many people think of concentration as a mental strength issue.
I believe that if you just put your mind to it, you can concentrate, and if you have the will, you can do it for hours.
However, this premise is wrong.
Concentration is not a matter of will or determination, such as mental strength or perseverance.
Concentration is not an innate talent or a special ability built into the body.
So where does concentration come from?

The answer is our brain.
Concentration is created in the brain.
Therefore, if you want to improve your concentration, the fastest and most certain way is to understand the structure of the brain and use it correctly.
---From "Entering"

In fact, the brain is divided into eight regions.
And each has a different role (function).
Depending on what you are doing, the areas of the brain that are activated (actively working) change, such as the areas that are activated when you think and judge, the areas that are activated when you see something, the areas that are activated when you convey something to someone else, and the areas that are activated when you exercise.

Different types of concentration mean different areas of the brain are activated.
For example, when you concentrate on reading, the visual areas of your brain react actively, and when you concentrate on what your teacher is saying, the auditory areas of your brain become activated.
---From "Prologue_What You Need to Know to Develop True Concentration"

Our human brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells.
These nerve cells are responsible for transmitting and processing information.
And each nerve cell has its own specialty.
Cells with the same specialty (that perform the same function), such as cells responsible for movement, cells responsible for hearing, and cells responsible for memory, form a group.

For example, it is similar to how departments within a company are divided by role, such as sales, development, planning, and public relations.
Even within the brain, each area has its own unique role, such as the area responsible for movement, the area responsible for memory, and the area responsible for thinking.
---From "The brain is divided into eight regions according to their functions"

When the surroundings are cluttered, the visual brain area responsible for visual focus is overstimulated or the gaze is scattered, putting a strain on the brain.

For example, if your desk is messy, just looking at it will confuse your brain and reduce your ability to concentrate.
Also, it is easy to become distracted when things related to hobbies or entertainment come into view.
Therefore, it is best to store these items that interfere with studying in an out-of-sight place, such as a drawer or bag.
People who live in an organized room and people who live in a messy room have different brain states.
---From "What People Who Are Good at Organizing and Those Who Are Good at Studying"

When do you want to focus? Don't you think, "I wish I could focus both when reading and when listening to the teacher!"? I completely understand that feeling.

But the reality is not that simple.
Most people would say, 'I can concentrate when I read, but I can't concentrate at all when I listen to the teacher.'
When I do ○○, I can concentrate, but when I try to do ××, there are times when I can't concentrate.
The reason why concentration is only demonstrated in certain situations is because the brain's development did not proceed evenly.
---From "If you want to increase your concentration time in any situation"

Each part of our brain has its own unique role.
But they don't work individually.
The brain organically cooperates with the focus created by the eight cerebral cortex to cope with various situations.
They form networks by connecting adjacent brain regions or connecting distant brain regions.

In soccer, several players cooperate to pass the ball back and forth to achieve the goal of scoring points.
Similarly, in the brain, the focus created by multiple brain regions cooperates toward a single goal.
When humans perform certain actions, a specific brain region does not work alone, but rather multiple brain regions work together as a team.
---From "What is team play between brain cells?"

The brain's ON/OFF switching is the smooth adjustment of the state of concentration (ON) and the state of no concentration (OFF).
Once this is possible, you can naturally enter into focus mode.
You might think, 'Is that really possible?' but in fact, we already experience the brain turning on and off in our daily lives.

For example, when taking a written exam at school, when the bell rings to signal the start of the exam, the ON switch turns on and you focus on solving the problem.
When the bell rings to indicate the end of the test, it turns OFF and recognizes that the test is over.
In movie theaters, lighting also acts as a switch for the brain.
When the lights inside the theater dim, it turns on and focuses on the screen (recognizing the start of the movie).
When the ending credits roll and the lights come up, your brain recognizes that the movie is over and goes into OFF mode.
---From "A Reluctant Mind Can Be Controlled"

As explained earlier, the clearer the purpose and reason for doing something, the easier it is for the brain to switch on (to focus).
The important thing when setting goals is to find joy and find what works for you.

The brain has a tendency to do things it is good at, things it finds interesting, and things it likes, but not things it is bad at or dislikes.
If you say, 'I have to do this.'
But in reality, if you think negatively, saying, 'I'm tired and don't want to do it,' cooperation between brain regions does not proceed smoothly, which puts the brakes on concentration.
---From "A way of thinking that naturally turns on the focus switch"

It's okay to play games as long as you set a rule of three minutes before you start studying and stick to it strictly once a week.
But it usually won't end once a week.
Besides, once you start playing the game, it's hard to quit.
Most people continue playing games because the brain has a tendency to repeat the pleasure it feels.
And as the game time increases due to thoughts like 'just a little more' or 'just until I finish this game', the brain becomes worn out and it affects studies and work.
---From "The compensation for doing something you don't want to do is doing something you like"

Concentration is a skill that the brain creates, but on the other hand, it can be thought of as something that comes from the past.
Can you understand what I mean?

Coming from the past means that I am influenced by the habits I have had since before today (the past).
The reason why I can't concentrate now is because of my past self.
For example, if you are sleep deprived after staying up all night and feeling drowsy, you will not be able to concentrate.
At this point, you can see that what happened last night is still having an effect.

People who eat dinner late (or go to bed right after dinner) end up going to bed while digestion is still incomplete.
Then, the brain cannot rest properly because it continues to communicate with the intestines even during sleep.
The bad habit of eating dinner late the night before is putting a strain on your brain the next day.

---From "What's interrupting my concentration now is my past self"