Frequently asked questions
What Attention Training Technique is, how MINDWAKE works in practice and what to expect from training your attention.
Understand the method
What ATT is and why it works.
What is Attention Training Technique (ATT)?
ATT is a structured training method for attention, developed by psychologist Adrian Wells as part of Metacognitive Therapy (MCT). The practice is about deliberately directing, shifting and stabilising attention through sound. The goal isn't to stop thoughts. It's to strengthen your ability to choose where attention lands.
How does ATT work in practice?
The training happens in three phases. First you hold focus on one sound at a time. Then you switch rapidly between several sounds. Finally you train holding the entire soundscape in awareness at once. Through repetition, attention is trained to release, redirect and stabilise on purpose.
How is MINDWAKE different from meditation and mindfulness?
Meditation is often about observation and acceptance. ATT is more about active attentional control. Instead of just observing thoughts, you train the ability to move attention deliberately and step out of mental noise when it takes over.
What is MCT, and why does it matter?
MCT stands for Metacognitive Therapy and was developed by Adrian Wells. Unlike many therapies, MCT focuses less on the content of thoughts and more on how we relate to thinking itself. ATT is a central training method within MCT, used to strengthen flexible attentional control.
Why does the mind get stuck in rumination and mental noise?
The brain is built to detect problems and threats. When attention turns inward and gets stuck there, it can produce repetitive loops of worry, analysis and rumination. Research links this to overactivity in the brain's Default Mode Network, a network associated with self-focused thinking and mental autopilot.
What is actually being trained?
ATT primarily trains attentional control, mental flexibility and executive control: the ability to deliberately hold, shift and stabilise focus. Over time it can contribute to greater presence, less mental noise and a stronger sense of agency over your own mind.
Results & experience
What you'll actually notice, and what not to expect.
What happens if I lose focus during training?
That's completely normal, and actually part of the training itself. ATT isn't about perfect focus. Every time you notice attention has drifted and consciously return, you're training the ability to redirect focus.
How quickly will I notice a difference?
Many people describe a felt difference during the very first sessions, often as more clarity or less mental noise. The deeper, longer-term effects usually come through daily, consistent practice over time.
What will I actually notice over time?
People often describe improved presence, less rumination, better focus and greater mental flexibility. Many find it becomes easier to let go of thought loops and return to what's actually happening around them.
Do I have to be good at focus to begin?
No. ATT is attention training, not an attention test. You start where you are, and the act of returning to focus is what builds the skill over time.
Is this only for mental health, or also for performance?
Both. ATT was developed within clinical psychology, but it trains skills that are equally central to performance: focus, presence, mental flexibility and the ability to stay in control under pressure.
Is MINDWAKE therapy?
No. MINDWAKE is not therapy and does not replace healthcare or clinical treatment. The app is a structured attention training platform, built on principles from Metacognitive Therapy and research on attentional control.
Is it safe with anxiety or depression?
For many people, ATT can feel helpful with stress, worry and mental noise. At the same time, MINDWAKE is not medical treatment. For severe mental health concerns or ongoing care, the training should be seen as a complement, not a replacement for professional help.
Practical
How you train: headphones, frequency, offline.
Do I need headphones?
Yes. Headphones are strongly recommended. Spatial audio and clear separation between sound sources are a key part of ATT training, and make the experience significantly more effective and immersive.
How often should I train?
Short, regular sessions work best. For many people, around twelve minutes a day is enough to build continuity and gradually strengthen attentional control over time.
Can I build my own sound environments and share them?
Yes. You can create your own attention environments by combining, placing and mixing sounds in a spatial field. Environments can be saved, used in training and shared with others.
Does it work offline?
Some features and sessions can be used offline, but certain parts (like community, synced sessions and shared sound environments) require an internet connection.
Do you have a free version?
Yes. MINDWAKE offers a free trial so you can experience the training before you commit.
How do I get started?
Put on your headphones, start a session and follow the sounds. You don't need prior experience with meditation or mental training. Just the willingness to begin directing your attention on purpose.