6.3 Perception & Attention

Question 1

In bottom-up processing, the ____________ drives neural activity allowing eventual identification of the stimulus in the environment:
• Perception is directly shaped by stimuli in the environment (no ____________ needed)

Environmental cue

• _____________: Apparent motion of objects in the environment caused by the relative motion between the observer and the scene
• __________: Provides information about distance (elements become more densely packed and decrease in size as distance increases)
• Horizon ratio: Horizon ratios of two objects standing on the ground are the same if they are the same observed size → allows judgement of relative size

Answer 1

external stimulus;

interpretation;

Optic flow pattern;

Textual gradient;

Question 2

In top-down processing, schemas (______, _______, _______, ________) help to construct, deconstruct, organise, analyse, interpret incoming stimulus:
• Schemas are mental representations used to assimilate, organise and simplify knowledge which develop through life experiences → unique to each individual
• In placebo or nocebo effects, patient expectations influence the symptom perceptions (e.g. pain)

Answer 2

expectations, knowledge, memory, past experiences

Question 3

Early selection approach: Two stimuli are registered by the senses → both stimuli are encoded in terms of their physical characteristics (e.g. gender of speaker):
• Only one stimulus (attended) is selected for further processing
• The listener only notices the ______________ of the unattended stimulus but not its contents
• Selection of attended stimulus occurs early

Answer 3

physical characteristics

Question 4

Attenuation (reduction) approach: Modified version of the early selection approach
• Unattended stimulus is not completely blocked from further processing but is only _____________
• Some contents of the unattended stimulus are remembered due to its relevance (top-down processing)
• Both stimuli may be combined into consistent information

Answer 4

turned down (attenuation)

Question 5

Late selection approach: incoming stimuli are recognised in terms of their contents: • ____________ – only the most relevant parts of the unattended stimulus are identified (e.g. the cocktail party phenomenon – hearing your name at a party)
• Stimuli that are personally meaningful are most likely to capture our attention

Answer 5

Attention switch

Question 6

What is selective attention?

Answer 6

focusing on one source of sensory information while ignoring others (three different approaches to selective attention)

Question 7

What is automacity?

Answer 7

ability to do things with little or no attention, which develops as a result of extensive practice

Question 8

People tend to only pay attention to some bodily sensations due to our pre-existing schemas/prior experience/emotional state:
• If the patient is anxious about contracting cancer, he/she only pays attention to specific bodily sensations and attribute them as signs of cancer while ignoring other sensations
• Tends to develop _______________ which intensifies selective attention on the selected bodily sensations
• Intensification on the selected bodily sensations amplifies them (e.g. pain), leading to even more negative interpretation and the cycle continues

Answer 8

illness-related anxiety