In your brain, attention can be mapped to specific regions involved in selecting and sustaining focus. The brain’s parietal cortex is like the steering wheel pointing its focus in a general direction. Once aimed, it tells your brain to zero in on a particular target. The prefrontal cortex then kicks into action and is responsible for holding your attention (or not) on that one spot.

Just as you can work out to build muscle strength, you can exercise areas of your brain to strengthen your attention skills through meditation. One study showed that three months of meditation practice can have a significant positive effect on attention and brain function. One type of meditation, in particular, focused attention meditation, showed higher levels of activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortices.

Researchers also found that meditation helps combat habituation, which is the tendency of your brain to adapt to information in its environment – the opposite of paying attention. Studies have shown that improved attention can persist as long as five years after mindfulness training, suggesting lasting trait-like changes.