Home / Series / DW Documentaries / Aired Order / Season 2026 / Episode 56

The secret to concentration - How to increase your attention span

Constant stimuli, digital distractions - how can we stay focused these days? Does talent, training, or technology help? Neuroscientists and mental coaches show how concentration works in the brain. In an increasingly demanding world, we seem to be able to concentrate less and less. How does our brain manage to focus, even when we’re constantly exposed to distractions? This documentary accompanies a top athlete, an air traffic controller trainee, and an e-sports professional on their journeys in search of maximum focus. Swimming world champion Angelina Köhler has to be fully focused for a certain number of seconds to win a race. How does she prepare for this? According to Angie Köhler, the mind is crucial: "The sequences we train in swimming are so precise and technical that if you're not focused, you can't perform them quickly. If you can't concentrate properly, you lose."

English
  • Originally Aired April 16, 2026
  • Runtime 42 minutes
  • Network Deutsche Welle TV
  • Created October 10, 2026 by
    andresflower
  • Modified October 10, 2026 by
    andresflower