Attention is a cognitive and psychobiological variable that lacks objective measures in natural contexts of formal learning. However, it can be objectively measured from the heart autonomic activity. In the present study, the validity and reliability of a system for recording heart rate variability are demonstrated. Twelve prototypes were created and paired with standard electrocardiogram. Long segments with cardiac pulse recordings were used within ten minutes. A highly significant correlation index (p < 0.01) and a significantly high Cronbach's alpha were obtained. In the variance analysis, all data analyzed presented a value of p < 0.05. It is concluded that there is no significant variation between paired systems; therefore, the attention detection system based on heart rate variability is valid and reliable.

El Nobel de Fisiología y Medicina del 2017, otorgado a tres cronobiólogos, reintrodujo una discusión que se viene dando desde hace varias décadas entre la comunidad científica, acerca de cómo los relojes biológicos controlan los ritmos diarios e influencian el comportamiento, el aprendizaje y la salud. El funcionamiento de un conjunto de genes participa del control de los ritmos biológicos, y está asociado a los horarios de sueño, cuya restricción se vincula a problemas de la salud y del desempeño académico. Se propone tener en cuenta esta temática en la política educativa.