gather_attrs moves variable-level attributes to the data frame level and spread_attrs reverses that operation.
Details
import() attempts to standardize the return value from the various import functions to the extent possible, thus providing a uniform data structure regardless of what import package or function is used. It achieves this by storing any optional variable-related attributes at the variable level (i.e., an attribute for mtcars$mpg is stored in attributes(mtcars$mpg) rather than attributes(mtcars)). gather_attrs moves these to the data frame level (i.e., in attributes(mtcars)). spread_attrs moves attributes back to the variable level.