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Rhythms of a Roving Mind 'Beats' of the Bouncing Brain Summarized [adapted from Carla's workshop materials]
		(Ex.SSB3) .
You may have noticed the small wavy lines under the bell curve of attention in Exhibit SSB1. In my spectrum model, these waves represent a metaphorical "brain beat" designed to depict the range of styles in different kinds of roving minds, from the exciteable distractibility of the underfocused Type 1 to the sometimes relentless persistence of the hyperfocused Type 3, as compared to the "modulating" mind without an attention difficulty. Below a bit more detail about each type:

 

	The Modulated Mind Without attention difficulties
			The Right Stuff at the Right Time A "modulated" mind without attention difficulties can power attention up and down at will to suit the task at hand, then detach and switch when it is time. Thought patterns move with an even cyclic rhythm most of the time in the modulated mind, while those with an attention difficulty experience more irregularity and/or more intensity, as illustrated below.

 

	The Bouncing Brain With attention difficulties that include kinetic-sensory and/or cerebral hyperactivity
	AD Type 1: Roving		The Beat of a Bumble Bee Buzzing Fast, Hard to Catch The underfocused Type 1 has a great deal of "bounce" in the attentional signal but has trouble boosting the focusing power to keep the signal strong and thinking clear. There may be a sense of mental "static" or "buzz," as symbolized by the lack of clear attentional space above the line.	Type 1: Roving Subtypes (hypofocus) 1.1 underaroused Rambling Ranger 1.2 overaroused Gambler-Rebel 1.3 hyperaroused Daredevil-Outlaw
	AD Type 2: Restless		The Beat of a Butterfly Fluttering Off & On, Weak & Strong This "mixed focus" type is able to focus quite intensely and sustain it if aroused, but can't power it up enough to do so consistently. The Type 2 struggles both to hold focus as long as needed and shut it off when its time, working in fits and starts, peaks,  valleys and sprints, alternating between over and underthinking.	Restless Subtypes (mixed [dipolar] focus) 2.1 underaroused Distractible Dreamer 2.2 overaroused Compulsive Creator 2.3 hyperaroused Inconsistent Perfectionist
	AD Type 3: Relentless		The Beat of a Hummingbird Rush & Roar of Racing Wings The third style of inattention is the opposite of the first. Instead of working to turn focus on, the "hyperfocused" Type 3 works to tune it down, not just once in awhile, but almost all of the time. Overflowing with racing thoughts and volatile feelings, people with this type of difficulty report that the feeling of static or "buzz" can appear here again to disrupt clear thinking.	Relentless Subtypes (hyperfocus) 2.1 underaroused Boundary Bender 2.2 overaroused Revolutionary-Martyr 2.3 hyperaroused Kamikaze
	Excerpted from the workshop  Surviving Sane with a Bouncing Brain: Dancing in Time to the Beat of Your Mind, by Carla (Nelson) Berg, copyright below
	Back to prior exhibit
	t Title)		Related exhibits: Bell of Attention Differences Shades of the Stimulus-Driven: A Matrix of Inattentive Styles Spectrum of AD: Nine Degrees of Attentional Instability
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