Completely fascinated and absorbed by something, having one's attention fully captured and held. This involves intense focus and positive engagement with whatever has captured interest.
From Latin 'captivatus,' meaning 'taken prisoner,' from 'capere' meaning 'to take or seize.' The metaphor suggests being held prisoner by something so interesting that you cannot look away or think about anything else.
Captivation involves the brain's reward system releasing dopamine while simultaneously activating focused attention networks. This creates a pleasurable state of 'flow' where time seems to disappear—it's the neurological basis for why we can lose hours when truly engaged with something fascinating.
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