The article reveals the importance of attention in the educational and cognitive activities of students. The review of the main foreign theories of attention (V. Wundt, E. Titchener, W. James, T. Ribot, R. Woodwards, D. Kahneman, W. Neisser, N. N. Lange, L. C. Vygotsky, N. F. Dobrynin, P. P. Blonsky, etc.) and domestic approaches (M. Zhumabaev, Zh. Aimauytov, M. M. Mukanov), acting as a theoretical basis for the study of attention. The article reveals the history, formation and current state of attention research in Kazakhstan psychological science. The contribution of scientists and psychologists studying the phenomenon of attention, its structure, types and basic properties, the influence on the development of specific professional training,  educational technologies, etc.