Attentional Networks
Definition: Attentional networks are systems in the brain that help us stay alert, focus on what matters, and stop automatic habits so we can choose what to do next.
(based on research carried out by Posner, Michael & Rothbart, Mary. (2007). Posner MI, Rothbart MK. Research on attention networks as a model for the integration of psychological science. Ann Rev Psychol 58: 1-23. Annual review of psychology. 58. 1-23. 10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085516.)
Three Types of Attention:
- Alerting: Keeps us ready and awake, like preparing for movement or noticing a change in balance.
- Orienting: Helps us shift focus from one thing to another, such as noticing tension in the neck or the way our feet meet the floor.
- Executive attention: Allows us to pause, reflect and make a choice—like using inhibition to stop a reactive posture and apply direction.
Why It Matters in Alexander Technique: Alexander Technique teaches us to work consciously. This research shows that attention is not just a feeling, but a skill we can learn and improve. When students learn to direct attention purposefully, they begin to change how they move, respond and coordinate their whole self.
Practical Link: Noticing your balance, choosing where to place attention and allowing undoing direction.The act of balancing, the intention to place awareness and your request for non-doing direction connect directly to these brain systems. It invites students to see the Alexander Technique not as a static method for posture correction, but as an ongoing practice of self-regulation that enriches movement, awareness, and choice throughout daily life.