Can I induce Hyperfocus

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I've noticed enormous variation in my performance. At times (such as when I write a blog post about a particularly interesting topic) it seems that my entire mind is churning with ideas and associations as well as noticing subtle details that others miss. In this mental state, which I would probably label hyper-focus, I seem to think with great mental clarity. My thoughts are surprisingly original, insightful, and I would even say somewhat abstract (despite being labelled a "concrete thinker" on the basis of a WISC assessment, which has been a real source of insecurity), making note of faults and fallacies in the reasoning, arguments, and intellectual systems of others.

At other times, my mind feels utterly devoid and lethargic, requiring the exertion of great effort to make the most rudimentary of logical inferences or associations. My performance, at these points, is much lower.

At times my internal monologue (which became rather well-developed after a period of negativistic intellectual self-doubt) has contemplated whether I can “induce” states of hyperfocus, under which every part of my mind flows with information, inferences, and associations.

Falling into my all-consuming vice (browsing the internet) I came across this article on inducing hyperfocus.

www.gifteddevelopment.com/PDF_files/sbofa.pdf

This article suggests a method for inducing hyperfocus:

1. Clear your mind before performing homework.
2. Attempt to concentrate vigorously on your homework for fifteen minutes.
3. Take a break by engaging in a non-intellectual activity (i.e. a physical activity like walking as opposed to reading)
4. Go back to the homework for another fifteen minutes.
5. Continue this cycle until homework is completed.

It appears to be geared towards visual-spatial thinkers or students with ADD (at least that is my sense).My VI-PI discrepancy is towards the verbal range, so I’m the opposite of these “visual-spatial thinkers”. But my question is still the same.

Is it possible, under the proper conditions, to induce a state of hyperfocus or, at least, greatly improved focus by using the method described in the article?

My information process speed has been measured as slow (though that could just be the acute acute hyperglycemia)

And, just to supply you all with too much information, I wrote this in a mental state I would consider suboptimal.

I don't think steps 3-4 would do much of anything.
Meditation can help big time though if you want to think at a higher level.
In order to meditate you must completely clear your mind of every thought and keep it like that for as long as possible. It can greatly improve your mind and thinking afterwords.

Oddly enough, meditation is exactly used in an attempt to "clear my mind". Well, attempted meditation at least. I could not help but be distracted by the sounds of others walking in my apartment (the building has a very faulty design, its really easy to hear nearby people). I also got quite irritable when I found out that my mind was not exactly "cleared".

Plus, recently, I've been experiencing these worries over whether or not I'm capable of much intellectual activitiy and output beyond mere rote memorization. Troubles with an abstract discipline like physics have only compounded such self-doubt, making it more difficult to clear my mind.

There is your problem
Worry not my friend

Easier said than done!

I have that too. I used to call it 'hyperlucidity'.

I don't know of anything you can do to induce it besides wait until you are feeling energetic and force your mind to go blank if possible.

That's a rather etymologically appealing neologism you coined. I noticed the sheer lucidity in such a states of "heightened concentration" (as I used to call them). I contemplated that their must be an already coined and agreed upon (among a group of specialists) term for such states.

I heard the term "Youtube - Re: Cure or Accept Autism?" in a youtube video. Afterwards, I googled the term and uncovered a (albeit not completely cited) on Hyperfocus - Wikipedia. I googled the term looking for ways to, perhaps, apply it.

I've gravitated towards using "hyperfocus" as a word to describe my mental states because its:

1) An already coined term.
2) Common enough, though not that common, to become a word/concept fully integrated into discussions thanks to the Internet (just like how "neurotypical" as a term as trickled up into psychological journals).

I actually didn't know it was an AS trait. I just noticed that I went into that state and felt I needed a name for it. I called it hyperlucidity, because it seemed the most accurate term I could think of. I still think of it as hyperlucidity, it seems the best term for very heightened consciousness.

"Hyperlucidity" does have quite an aesthetic appeal. I just hope the concept, with whatever linguistic label, gets "out there". Discussion of it has been pitifully seldom among professional psychologists, even though it seems to be a rather interesting (even perhaps beneficial) trait of Aspergers and High-Fuctioning Autism.

Vernon L. Smith rather nicely discusses the state of "hyperlucidity" or "hyperfocus" here.

I noticed this as well recently, but also did not think it to be an aspie thing. Hyperlucidity is a gorgeous term for it.

A way to induce it would be interesting, but I personally can't imagine anything except for making the actual activity more in key with my special interests. >> My math homework, as such, will likely have to suffer on as it is.

If only somebody had thought of that in primary school (it has been suggested by bloggers)!

If you can't hyperfocus and are feeling exceptionally masochistic, you can always try spending three to four hours a night on it!