Andrade (psych, Backround) Flashcards
Primary task
The main activity that is being concentrated on
Secondary (concurrent task)
An additional task that can be performed simultaneously with the primary task
Attention
The concentration of mental effort on a particular stimulus
Focused attention
Picking out and focusing on a particular input from a mass of information
Divided attention
The ability to split mental effort simultaneously between 2 tasks
Working memory model
- Describes short-term memory as a system with multiple components.
- Including the central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketch pad,
Daydreaming
- The detachment from our environment
- Into a mildly altered state of consciousness
- resulting in “being lost in one’s thoughts”
Central executive
- Directs attention
- Decides which info is attended to and what parts of the working memory to send that information to
Phonological loop
Handles auditory info
Visuospatial sketch pad
Processes visual and spatial information
What determines whether or not we attend to remember/ recall something?
Whether or not we attend to a stimulus. (attention is required for the encoding stage of memory process)
Divided attention is easier when….
The task involved are simple, well practice and automatic.
Arousal
The extent to which we are alert, or responsive to external stimuli
Arousal has what type of components?
- Physiological
- Psychological
- and is mediated by the nervous system and hormones
What is daydreaming linked to?
Arousal
Why could daydreaming inhibit performance on the primary task?
- uses important cognitive resources (central executive)
- so inhibits performance on tasks that use this resource (like including attention and memory)
How could doodling maintain arousal?
-Raise arousal to help keep you awake when u are sleepy and bored
- Reduce arousal when agitated due to boredom
What psychology is being investigated?
- Dual task performance
- Cognitive load theory
- Daydreaming
Attention is required for…
Encoding stage of the memory process
Dual task performance
- The study focuses on info processing when 2 tasks are managed simultaneously
- The study explores whether a secondary task could improve performance on a primary task
- by maintaining arousal levels to enhance concentration
2) Cognitive load theory
- This theory posits that working memory has a limited capacity and cognitive processing of dual task compete for the same cognitive resources
- but doodling could theoretically help by occupying a small amount of cognitive load in comparison to daydreaming
- enhancing attention or memory
The study focuses on…
info processing when 2 tasks are managed simultaneously
The study explores whether a secondary task could improve performance on a primary task by…
maintaining arousal levels to enhance concentration
Cognitive load theory posists..
working memory has a limited capacity and cognitive processing of dual task compete for the same cognitive resources
Cognitive processing of dual tasks..
compete for the same cognitive resources
doodling could theoretically help by…
occupying a small amount of cognitive load in comparison to daydreaming
