Attention

Question 1

Attention

Answer 1

Focusing on specific task, details, thoughts or action. It’s a cognitive process that facilitates processing relevant information while also coping with distraction.

Question 2

3 aspects

Answer 2

1. Concentration (applied attention)
2. Selective attention (choosing relevant info)
3. Processing capacity.

Question 3

Applied attention

Answer 3

• Concentration requires mental effort
• You can only focus on one task/thing at a time
• If you’re focused you concentrate on one specific thought/action that is under your control
• You lose focus if you focus on irrelevant information or ‘out of control’ factors.

Question 4

Two dimensions of attention

Answer 4

Width:
- Can be very broad (large number of stimuli) to very narrow (details) based on what you focus on. Not one better than the other, depends on the context

Direction;
From internal (directed inwards, thoughts and feeligns) to external (Directed towards what’s happening in the environment)

Question 5

Attentional flexibility

Answer 5

ability to switch between/adjust attentional focus; highly skilled athletes

Question 6

Selective attention

Answer 6

Ability to discriminate between task relevant/irrelevant info. You always receive info, you can’t be aware of all. It refers to the suppression of task irrelevant stimuli/thoughts. It can be learned.

Question 7

Processing capacity

Answer 7

amount of attentional space available for processing. Tasks that require large amount of space interfere w each other.

By practicing you can reduce the amount of space needed, eg by learning to dribble/drive. Allowing more room for other acitivities