July 21 (UPI) — A new egg study has produced sunny-side-up results for the oft-maligned breakfast staple.
Eggs are commonly thought to increase the risk of heart disease by raising people’s cholesterol levels.
But people who ate two eggs a day experienced reductions in their “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, as long as the rest of their diet remained low in saturated fat, researchers reported in the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Indeed, the amount of saturated fat in a person’s diet tended to increase their LDL cholesterol levels, not the cholesterol found in eggs, results show.
“You could say we’ve delivered hard-boiled evidence in defense of the humble egg,” senior researcher Jon Buckley, a professor at the University of South Australia, said in a news release.
“So, when it comes to a cooked breakfast, it’s not the eggs you need to worry about — it’s the extra serving of bacon or the side of sausage that’s more likely to impact your heart health,” Buckley added.
Eggs are a unique food, in that they are high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat, he said.
“Yet, it’s their cholesterol level that has often caused people to question their place in a healthy diet,” Buckley said.
For the new study, researchers recruited 61 adults 18 to 60 with an average LDL cholesterol level of 105.
LDL cholesterol levels above 100 are considered “at risk” for heart disease, and 160 and higher are “dangerous,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. This type of cholesterol contributes to plaques that can block arteries and cause heart attacks or strokes.
Participants took turns cycling through three different types of diets for five weeks each:
• A high-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet with two eggs a day.
• A low-cholesterol, high-saturated fat diet without eggs.
• A high-cholesterol, high-saturated fat diet that included one egg a week.
“To date, no studies have directly compared the effects of a high-cholesterol, high-saturated fat diet, as is common in Western diets, with a high-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet or a low-cholesterol, high-saturated fat diet,” researchers noted in their report.
By the end of the study, 48 people had completed all three diets. Blood samples were taken after each cycle, to see how the different diets affected their LDL cholesterol.
People’s LDL cholesterol fell when on the two-egg diet, compared to the other two eating patterns, results show. They wound up with average LDL cholesterol levels of just under 104, compared with 108 and 109 for the other two diets.
“In this study, we separated the effects of cholesterol and saturated fat, finding that high dietary cholesterol from eggs, when eaten as part of a low saturated fat diet, does not raise bad cholesterol levels,” Buckley said.
“Instead, it was the saturated fat that was the real driver of cholesterol elevation,” he noted.
Specifically, each 1-gram increase in saturated fat was associated with a 0.35-point increase in LDL cholesterol, the study says.
But no significant relationship was found between cholesterol intake and a person’s LDL cholesterol levels, results show.
“Eggs have long been unfairly cracked by outdated dietary advice,” Buckley concluded.
More information
The Cleveland Clinic has more on blood cholesterol levels.
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The baseline characteristics of the participants described by cancer status and sex are presented in Table 1 and Additional file 1: Table S1. This prospective cohort included a total of 5,888,034 individuals, including 2,869,265 males and 3,018,769 females. The mean age of participants at baseline was 47.28 (± 18.87) years for those without GC, 65.88 (± 10.79) years for individuals with cardia GC, and 69.27 (± 11.78) years for those with non-cardia GC. The cohort accumulated a total of 37,419,745 person-years of follow-up, with an average follow-up duration of 6.36 (± 1.98) years. Among the participants, 962,171 individuals (16.3%) were diagnosed with dental caries, 266,041 individuals (4.5%) had root canal infections, 1,101,631 individuals (18.7%) presented with mild dental inflammation, and 684,632 individuals (11.6%) were diagnosed with periodontitis. The average number of remaining teeth at baseline was 27 (± 5) (847,054 missing, 14.4%). About half of the individuals (48.7%) had a high school education, with 2.8% missing (167,665). A total of 150,303 (2.6%) participants had alcohol-related diseases, 85,233 (1.4%) had smoking-related diseases, and 96,651 (1.6%) had a family history of GC (86,348 missing, 1.5%). During the follow-up period, we identified 3993 incident GC cases (incidence rate, IR: 10.7 per 100,000 person-years), including 1241 cardia GC cases (IR: 3.3 per 100,000 person-years) and 2752 non-cardia GC cases (IR: 7.4 per 100,000 person-years) (Figs. 2 and 3).
The association between baseline dental health condition and the risk of gastric cancer in the cohort analysis. All HR and 95% CI estimates were derived from Cox models with attained age as timescale: minimally adjusted models were adjusted for sex and age at entry; fully adjusted models were adjusted for sex, age at entry, family income, education, family history of gastric cancer, smoking-related diseases, and alcohol-related diseases. Trend analyses were performed by Cochran-Armitage test. The “unknown” group was excluded from the calculation of p-trend. Abbreviations: IR, incidence rate; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval. *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001
The association between baseline dental health condition and the risk of cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer in the cohort analysis. All HR and 95% CI estimates were derived from Cox models with attained age as timescale, adjusted for sex, age at entry, family income, education, family history of gastric cancer, smoking-related diseases, and alcohol-related diseases. Trend analyses were performed by Cochran-Armitage test. The “unknown” group was excluded from the calculation of p-trend. Abbreviations: IR, incidence rate; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval. *: p < 0.05; **: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, our main analyses revealed a positive association between dental health condition and the risk of GC, and an inverse association between the number of remaining teeth and the risk of GC, although the effect size was slightly attenuated in the fully adjusted models.
In the fully adjusted models, associations between odontogenic inflammation and non-cardia GC were insignificant despite hazardous point estimate. The same pattern was observed for cardia GC except for periodontitis. Combining two subtypes did not change the direction or magnitude of the association. When compared to the healthy group, individuals suffering from periodontitis had an 11% (95% CI: 1% to 21%) and 25% (95% CI: 7% to 46%) increased risk of GC and cardia GC, respectively.
The near-linear, negative exposure-response curves suggest decreasing trends in the risk of GC or its two subtypes as the number of remaining teeth at baseline increased (Fig. 4). When comparing individuals with more than 27 remaining teeth (the reference group), those with 24 to 27, 20 to 24, 14 to 20, and 14 or fewer remaining teeth had increased risks of GC by 4% (95% CI: − 5% to 15%), 26% (95% CI: 13% to 40%), 46% (95% CI: 30% to 64%), and 55% (95% CI: 36% to 76%), respectively. Similarly, the risks of cardia GC were increased by 6% (95% CI: − 11% to 25%), 38% (95% CI: 15% to 66%), 74% (95% CI: 41% to 114%), and 70% (95% CI: 34% to 117%) in these groups. For non-cardia GC, the risks were increased by 4% (95% CI: − 8% to 17%), 21% (95% CI: 7% to 38%), 36% (95% CI: 18% to 56%), and 49% (95% CI: 28% to 74%), respectively.
Exposure-response curve for the association of remaining tooth number at baseline with the risk of gastric cancer and its anatomical subtypes among individuals in the Swedish Dental Health Register, 2009–2016. A Total gastric cancer; B cardia gastric cancer; C non-cardia gastric cancer. The dark blue solid line represents the point estimates and the black dash lines indicate corresponding 95% CIs, which were derived from Cox models with attained age as timescale, adjusted for sex, age at entry, family income, education, family history of gastric cancer, smoking-related diseases, and alcohol-related diseases
There was no significant interaction between dental inflammatory conditions and the number of remaining teeth on the risk of GC or its subtypes (p for interaction: 0.379 for total GC, 0.561 for cardia GC, and 0.345 for non-cardia GC). As shown in Additional file 1: Table S2, compared to individuals who had no inflammation and more than 27 remaining teeth, other groups generally showed increased risks of GC and its subtypes. For example, those with mild or severe dental inflammation and ≤ 14 remaining teeth had higher risks for total GC, cardia GC, and non-cardia GC, with HRs (95% CIs) of 1.68 (1.38, 2.03), 1.80 (1.25, 2.59), and 1.62 (1.29, 2.04), respectively.
For the sibling-controlled study, we matched 4022 unaffected full-sibling controls for 1987 incident GC cases (Table 2). Consistent with the cohort analysis, individuals with dental health problem had a higher risk of developing GC. While some ORs were either insignificant or marginally significant due to limited statistical power, the overall trends were clear. For example, the ORs (95% CI) for GC were 1.25 (1.05, 1.49) for individuals with dental caries, compared to the healthy group. Additionally, we observed a gradual increase in GC risk with a decreasing number of teeth at baseline. Individuals with 20 to 24, 14 to 20, and ≤ 14 remaining teeth had increased risks of 28% (95% CI: 6% to 55%), 43% (95% CI: 13% to 81%), and 47% (95% CI: 10% to 95%) for GC compared to the reference group, which aligns with the estimates from the cohort analyses.
The associations between dental health and GC, as well as its main subtypes, among different sex and age subgroups are shown in Additional file 1: Figs. S2–S5. Consistent with our main analyses, significant positive associations or trends were observed in most subgroups. For example, compared to the healthy group, the HRs (95% CI) for GC and cardia GC risk in the periodontitis group were 1.17 (1.05, 1.31) and 1.29 (1.08, 1.54) for male participants, and 1.25 (1.11, 1.41) and 1.44 (1.19, 1.74) for individuals under 70 years old. Additionally, compared to participants with more than 27 remaining teeth, those with ≤ 14 remaining teeth at baseline had HRs (95% CI) of 1.60 (1.36, 1.88), 1.58 (1.20, 2.09), and 1.59 (1.30, 1.94) for GC, cardia GC, and non-cardia GC, respectively, in male participants, and 1.75 (1.41, 2.17), 1.90 (1.35, 2.69), and 1.67 (1.27, 2.19) in participants under 70 years old. However, the associations between dental health condition and non-cardia GC in males, females, and those over 70 years old, as well as the associations between dental health condition and total GC in females and those over 70, were only marginally significant.
Our sensitivity analysis, which excluded incident cases and follow-up data from the first 2 years (Additional file 1: Fig. S6) as well as participants with missing covariate data (Additional file 1: Fig. S7), further supported the significant associations between poor dental health, fewer remaining teeth at baseline, and increased risks of GC and its subtypes. Despite reduced stability in some association estimates, all these findings were consistent with our primary results.
A case that first appeared in a medical journal several years ago has recently resurfaced in the media, highlighting an unexpected risk of hormone therapies: a baby girl in Sweden developed unusually large genitals after lying on her father’s bare chest, accidentally exposed to his testosterone gel.
The incident is a reminder that hormone treatments, while safe when used correctly, can pose risks to others if proper precautions aren’t followed.
Testosterone is a powerful sex hormone that plays a crucial role in male development. In the early months of life, babies undergo rapid development, making their bodies, and hormones, extremely sensitive.
Related: Testosterone Supplements Can Be Dangerous. Here’s Why Some Take The Risk.
Even small amounts of testosterone absorbed through the skin can affect a baby’s development, particularly with repeated exposure.
During “mini-puberty” – a short surge in hormone levels occurring a few months after birth – boys experience rising testosterone levels that help complete reproductive system development and prime it for adulthood. This process also influences brain development.
In girls, oestrogen rises slightly during this period, but testosterone remains very low. When a girl is exposed to external testosterone, such as from hormone gel, it can cause unexpected changes, including enlarged clitoris or fusion of the labia. This is precisely what occurred in the Swedish case.
Testosterone gels are commonly prescribed to treat men with low testosterone deficiency. The gel is typically applied once daily to clean, dry skin on the shoulders, upper arms or stomach. These alcohol-based gels help the hormone absorb into the skin.
While the gel dries within minutes, residue can remain on the skin for an hour or two after application. If someone touches the treated area too soon, or rests directly on it, they can inadvertently absorb some of the hormone. This risk is particularly significant for babies and children, whose thinner, more absorbent skin and developing bodies make them more vulnerable.
Testosterone gels are also increasingly used off-label in women to treat menopause symptoms (such as low libido, low mood and fatigue) and at around one-tenth of the dose given to men. This lower dose is achieved by applying a smaller amount of the same male product — this time to the lower abdomen, buttocks or inner thighs.
This means there’s much less hormone overall, but incidental exposure from women is also possible, for example, when holding a child soon after application.
While stories like this understandably cause concern, it’s crucial to understand the actual risk level. In the UK, around 50,000 to 100,000 people are prescribed testosterone on the NHS, with gel formulations popular due to their ease of application. If accidental exposure were common, we would see far more cases than the small number reported in medical journals.
The instructions accompanying these gels are clear: apply only to specified areas, wash hands immediately, cover the skin once dry and avoid close skin contact for several hours. When these guidelines are followed, transfer is very unlikely.
In the case of the Swedish child, when the father stopped resting the baby on his bare chest, the genital changes reversed over time. This pattern holds true for other reported cases – if exposure stops early, many effects can fade naturally.
However, in more severe or prolonged cases, children may need medical treatment. This could include hormonal tests, continued monitoring, anti-hormone treatment, or even surgery if physical changes don’t resolve. Early intervention is key, making it essential to consult a doctor if there’s any concern.
For those with babies, young children, or pregnant partners at home, the solution is straightforward planning. Apply the gel when you won’t be in direct contact immediately afterwards, or consider alternative application methods such as injections, skin patches, or tablets (available in the US), which carry lower risks of unintentional exposure to others.
This case serves as a valuable reminder that testosterone therapy, like all medications, comes with responsibilities. When used properly, it’s an effective treatment for men with diagnosed testosterone deficiency, improving sexual function and mood, with evidence suggesting it can also support muscle mass, bone health, and metabolism.
There is no need to fear these treatments, but if you are prescribed this medication, use it responsibly and follow the instructions carefully.
Daniel Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, Sheffield Hallam University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Adobe Stock/ Jiri Hera
A recent study identified cashews as the most frequent cause of tree nut-induced anaphylaxis among children, with an increased rate from 2007 to 2024.1
“We observed a clear increasing rate of cashew-induced anaphylaxis among reported reactions to food,” wrote investigators, led by Veronika Höfer, from Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. “Cashew has been less widespread and relatively easy to avoid in the past. Today, cashew is much more frequently consumed, e.g., as snacks, in cooked meals, but also as vegan milk and meat substitute, and in pesto. The increased consumption likely affected increased sensitisation and reaction rates.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the prevalence of food allergies has increased by 50% since the 1990s. About 33 million people in the US have food allergies, with many children allergic to shellfish (~8.4 million), milk (~6.2 million), peanuts (~6.2 million), tree nuts (~3.9 million), egg (~2.7 million), fin fish (~2.7 million), wheat (~2.4 million), soy (~1.9 million), and sesame (~ 0.7 million).2 Food allergies can be fear-inducing, isolating, and potentially life-threatening if they lead to anaphylaxis.3
When it comes to cashew-induced anaphylaxis, limited data existed. Investigators sought to identify phenotype-specific features among cases of tree-induced anaphylaxis, including age distributions, symptoms, severity, and potential cofactors and comorbidities.1 The team also aimed to analyze time trends and regional patterns of tree-induced anaphylaxis by examining the European Anaphylaxis Registry.
Investigators extracted cases of tree-nut anaphylaxis from 2007 to April 2024 from this anaphylaxis registry. They identified 1389 cases of tree-induced anaphylaxis out of 5945 (23%) registered food-induced reactions and included 1083 cases with confirmed elicitor status in the analysis. The sample included 845 children (median age, 4 years; 61% male) and 238 adults (mean age, 38 years; 40% male).
The most frequent triggers among children included cashew (n = 334; 40%), hazelnut (n = 211; 25%), and walnut (n = 146; 17%). Rates of cashew-induced anaphylaxis increased from 2007 to 2024, and reactions were caused by small amounts, < 1 teaspoon. Least common triggers included pistachio (8%), Brazil nut (3%), almond (3%), macadamia nut (1%), rare/unidentified tree nuts (1%), and pecan nut (1%).
The most common triggers for adults included hazelnut (n = 105; 44%), walnut (n = 47; 20%), and almond (n = 35; 15%). Anaphylaxis occurred at greater doses. The least common triggers among adults include Brazil nut (6%), cashew (5%), macadamia nut (4%), rare/unidentified nuts (4%), and pistachio (3%); pecan nut was not reported among adults.
Reaction severity was age-independent, and very few children (23%) and adults (21%) were previously aware of their allergy. Adrenaline use was low in lay treatment for children (13%) and adults (3%). Adrenaline was used in approximately 40% of cases during professional treatment.
Cashew-induced anaphylaxis occurred in 97% of pediatric cases, affecting mostly infants and young children < 5 years. Cashews rarely resulted in anaphylaxis in children > 10 years. Walnut-induced anaphylaxis also occurred more often in young children.
Hazelnut-induced anaphylaxis peaked during childhood and persisted throughout life. Almond-induced anaphylaxis and anaphylaxis to other tree nuts occurred throughout life but slightly more in childhood and young adulthood.
The most common comorbidities among children with tree nut-induced allergies were other food allergies (36%), atopic dermatitis (35%), asthma (27%), and allergic rhinitis (25%). Children with almond-induced anaphylaxis had frequently reported comorbid allergic rhinitis (59%) and asthma (41%).
Among adults, the most common comorbidities were allergic rhinitis (51%), asthma (21%), and other food allergies (16%). While non-atopic comorbidities were rare in children, they were common in adults, with several experiencing cardiovascular diseases and mastocytosis.
Potential cofactors were observed in 50% of adult patients and 17% of children. Exercise (15%) was the most frequent cofactor in children, and drugs (31%) and exercise (21%) were the most common in adults.
“Whether [tree nut-induced anaphylaxis] might become even more frequent in the future, as tree nut allergy is often persistent and tree nut consumption increases due to changes in eating habits towards plant-based protein sources, requires further monitoring,” investigators wrote. “Considering the large number of patients, it is crucial to improve the management.”
References
Vital to a well-balanced diet, foods that cleanse your liver are thankfully easy to find. But why should you pay attention to these specific types of foods?
The liver is one of our most important organs for our overall health—so taking care of it should be a top priority, according to Leah Kaufman, MS, RD, registered dietitian at NYU Langone Health. “The liver has many functions, but one of which is to eliminate wasteful substances from the body in the form of bile,” Kaufman says. “Therefore, it is important to keep your liver healthy.”
An unhealthy liver can cause more health problems in the long run, so there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when taking care of it. She recommends avoiding excess alcohol, high fatty foods, and simple sugars as the best way to keep your liver clean and functioning well. You’ll also want to exercise regularly and pick healthy foods. Here are Kaufman’s picks for the best, liver-friendly foods:
Kaufman recommends including a variety of foods filled with antioxidants into your diet to help cleanse the liver and decrease toxins. Studies show that foods like blueberries are not only rich with antioxidants to protect the liver from free radicals, but they also have anti-inflammatory properties and may inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the liver.
Leafy greens are another food that is rich in antioxidant properties, says Kaufman. Foods like Kale, cabbage, and arugula are also great sources of chlorophyll, which is a natural compound that is known for its detox properties and ability to enhance liver function.
Cruciferous veggies, which include broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, are also known to boost liver health and protect the liver cells. A study done on mice shows that broccoli played a major role in reducing the risk of fatty liver disease.
Tomatoes are another food that Kaufman said is rich in antioxidants to protect the liver from free radicals and help it cleanse out impurities from the body. Studies also show that tomatoes can help reduce the risk of fatty liver disease, which can lead to cirrhosis, scarring of the liver, or even liver cancer.
Kaufman also recommends beets as an antioxidant-rich food you can turn to for your liver. Studies show that beet juice can protect the liver from free radical damage and oxidative stress. It can also reduce the fat that might grow around the organ.
From lowering cholesterol to lowering the risk of certain diseases, flaxseeds come with loads of health benefits. Kaufman likes the food for your liver as it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which studies show can help reduce fat that may grow around the liver.
Another food rich in omega-3 fatty acids is fatty fish, which include salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and tuna. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation. Kaufman agrees and especially recommends salmon for the liver. Known as the ultimate anti-aging beauty food (and a favorite amongst many celebs), salmon is known to be good for your brain and gut health while also lowering liver fat.
If you need more reason to justify your daily cup of joe, studies show that drinking coffee can help prevent many different types of liver diseases. One study done in 2016 shows that coffee can lower the risk of fatty liver disease, and another study done in the same year shows that drinking two cups of coffee may help protect from permanent liver damage if you’re already dealing with chronic liver disease.
It’s one of the best cooking oils, and you can even drink it daily. Olive oil is a powerhouse and comes with many health benefits, such as fighting diabetes, boosting heart and gut health, strengthening bones, and reducing high blood pressure. As for the liver, studies show that olive oil can reduce inflammation and fat around the liver and lower elevated liver enzymes.
On top of adding flavor to any dish, garlic is packed with minerals, sulfur compounds, vitamins A and C, and fiber to promote health and prevent disease. It is known to boost your immunity, protect against inflammation, may protect against certain cancers, and lower blood pressure. It also makes for one of the best liver detox foods out there. Studies show that garlic can help reduce fat around the organs and reduce the risk of liver disease.
Whether you drink orange juice daily as part of your breakfast meal or drink water with lemon, citrus fruits are great for flushing out toxins in your liver. Studies show that drinking orange juice daily can reduce your risk of fatty liver disease.
Nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds are packed with so much nutritional value (you’ll find antioxidants, fiber, vitamin E, and healthy fats to name just a few), and they make for a great snack option or added garnish to a meal. Some health benefits include maintaining or lowering cholesterol levels, reducing inflammation, and helping us maintain a healthy weight.
With your liver, preliminary studies show that nuts may have a positive effect on reducing the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. But more studies are needed to prove it.
Kabul [Afghanistan], July 21 (ANI): The Ministry of Public Health has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.3 million children across 19 provinces of Afghanistan.
The four-day campaign, which commenced on Monday, will cover 187 districts, according to Sharafat Zaman Amarakhail, spokesperson for the ministry.
“A sub-national polio vaccination campaign has begun in 19 provinces of the country, covering 187 districts, and will continue for four days. Around 7.3 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated during this campaign,” said Amarakhail in a statement to Tolo News.
Vaccination teams have spread throughout the streets, alleyways, and neighbourhoods of Kabul and other provinces, working to immunise children against the debilitating disease.
Noor Hussain, one of the vaccinators, shared his experience of the day’s efforts: “I started my work at 7 a.m. The public’s cooperation in bringing their children for vaccination was truly commendable.”
As the vaccination campaign continues, residents in Kabul have called for the expansion of such initiatives to combat polio effectively.
Ramazan, a Kabul resident, emphasised the importance of spreading awareness, urging the government to educate people about the life-saving benefits of the vaccine. “We urge the government to educate people about the benefits of the vaccine and to continue this process,” he told Tolo News.
Doctors have underscored the critical role of public awareness and continued investment in eradicating polio. Dr. Mojtaba Sufi, a local health expert, reiterated: “The only effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, and these vaccines are provided by the international community.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported over twenty positive cases of polio in Afghanistan last year.
However, the Ministry of Public Health has contested the accuracy of these figures, calling them “inaccurate.”
The campaign is part of Afghanistan’s ongoing efforts to fight polio and protect the health of its youngest citizens. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
JERUSALEM, July 21 (Xinhua) — Israeli researchers have discovered that the human brain does not pay attention in one smooth stream, but in quick bursts, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Monday.
Although it might seem like the human eyes and brain take in the world in a steady, continuous way, a new study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences shows otherwise.
It was found that attention works more like a strobe light, flickering on and off at a regular rhythm.
As people scroll through their phones or switch between tasks, the brain is already doing something similar, the researchers explained.
Rather than processing everything at once, it takes rapid mental snapshots, more like a slideshow than a movie.
This process, named “attentional sampling,” helps the brain handle the constant flood of information.
The study found that the brain focuses on visual input around eight times per second. When attention is split between two things, it alternates between them at about four times per second.
Attention is always shifting, even when feeling deeply focused. This flickering focus helps the brain manage competing visual inputs by quickly switching between them, often without being aware of it.
The idea builds on a long-standing theory called “biased competition,” which suggests that different parts of the visual system compete to process information.
What drives this rhythm is still unknown, with some scientists believing higher-level brain regions may control the pattern, while others point to local brain circuits.
The researchers said this mechanism may apply not just to vision, but to all the senses, and could have wide-reaching implications for interface design, education, and neurological treatments. ■