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https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.i...
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
Open Science Framework
Other literature type . 2025
Data sources: Datacite
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Attention Grains: Quantifying the Cognitive Fuel of the Digital Economy

Authors: Rabelo, Gustavo;

Attention Grains: Quantifying the Cognitive Fuel of the Digital Economy

Abstract

The digital era has magnified human attention scarcity, turning it into a pivotal resource for well-being and productivity. This paper introduces the Attention Grains (AGs) Model and its Nurture-Drain-Invest (NDI) metabolism as a novel framework to understand, quantify, and manage the brain's "cognitive fuel". Each AG constitutes the smallest functional unit of attentional effort, while the NDI metabolism explains how these units are replenished, depleted, and strategically allocated over time. We provide (i) interdisciplinary theoretical grounding, (ii) a formal AG balance equation, (iii) an experimental blueprint for behavioural and neurobiological validation, and (iv) an open research agenda. The model proposes testable metrics for cost (β) and basal capacity (AG₀), opening new avenues for ethical platform design, digital-well-being interventions, and human-AI alignment.

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    influence
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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
hybrid