Dealing with distraction: understanding recovery after interruption

Interruptions impair performance and yet modern environments have normalised distractions in our workplaces, homes, schools and cars. Real-life tragedies occur daily because people are unaware of (or unwilling to accept) their attentional capacity limits. This Fellowship explores the consequences of interruption and distraction, using cutting-edge imaging methods to determine how the brain holds information over an interruption and the timecourse of attentional recovery. With both basic science and science communication outcomes, it will increase understanding of the mechanisms of recovery from interruption, and communicate these core capacity limits beyond academia to enhance public understanding and safety.