Cyber Valley Research Fund project optimizes focus and productivity

Unlike conventional attention training programs that rely on unrelated tasks or video games, ACTrain seamlessly integrates into the work environment, allowing users to enhance focus while actively engaged in their tasks. Users can specify the documents or applications on which they wish to concentrate and set a desired focus duration. The app then delivers real-time feedback on attention levels, transforming the workspace into a dynamic gym for strengthening focus and attention skills.  

ACTrain uses a unique point system that is awarded based on a mathematical principle, which aligns short-term rewards with long-term value, helping users see the benefits of staying focused over time. The software is available for free on both Mac and Windows platforms at https://osf.io/8f6hx/. 

Additionally, Lieder and his team collaborated with the non-profit organization Solve Education to integrate this point system into their educational game, The Dawn of Civilization, designed to help disadvantaged youth in developing countries learn English. An experiment revealed that this optimized point system led to significantly enhanced learning outcomes. 

ACTrain is poised to redefine productivity and learning, enabling individuals to more effectively achieve goals and sustain focus in an ever more distracting world. 

This project yielded the following peer-reviewed publications:  

1. Wirzberger, M., Lado, A., Prentice, M., Oreshnikov, I., Passy, J.-C., Stock, A., & Lieder, F. (2024). Optimal feedback improves behavioral focus during self-regulated computer-based work. Scientific Reports, 14(3134). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53388-3 
2. Kukamjad, T., Pauly, R., Heindrich, L., Amo, V., & Lieder, F. (2024, May). Evaluation of Brain Point Intervention in The Dawn of Civilization. UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.  https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11284.48008 
3. Pauly, R., Heindrich, L., Amo, V., & Lieder, F. (2022, June). What to learn next? Aligning gamification rewards to long-term goals using reinforcement learning. The 5th Multidisciplinary Conference on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making (RLDM2022). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32661.19684 
4. Teo. J., Pauly, R., Heindrich, L., Amo, V., & Lieder, F. (2021, June). Leveraging AI to support the self-directed learning of disadvantaged youth in developing countries. The first Life Improvement Science Conference. https://is.mpg.de/publications/paulyteoheindrichamolieder2021lisa-leveraging 
5. Wirzberger, M., Lado, A., Eckerstorfer, L., Oreshnikov, I., Passy, J. C., Stock, A., Shenhav, A., & Lieder, F. (2020). How to navigate everyday distractions: Leveraging optimal feedback to train attention control. CogSci 2020. https://www.cognitivesciencesociety.org/cogsci20/papers/0380/ 
6. Wirzberger, M., Oreshnikov, I., Passy, J., Lado, A., Shenhav, A., Lieder, F. (2020). ACTrain: Ein KI-basiertes Aufmerksamkeitstraining für die Wissensarbeit. 66th Spring Conference of the German Ergonomics Society. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14709.50406 

Dr. Falk Lieder is now an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UCLA and the Director of the Rational Altruism Lab.