Attention Flashcards
True or false - your attention can be shifted without you being consciously aware of it?
True
In one experiment a cross (fixation point) and face like blobs were presented on a computer. If the participants eyes moved from the cross then the expression on the faces would change to be neutral. What results were found from this study?
Consistent pleasant response in conditions where happy face presented even though can’t consciously see it, meaning there must be an unconscious influence. No influence when inverted face presented as upside down face very hard to process
What are the two key concepts of attention as a process?
- Selective attention - the ability to preferentially process a subset of all available information
- Sustained attention - the ability to maintain a state of high alertness/arousal/vigilance
What are the two key concepts of attention as a resource?
- A set of limited resources for cognitive processing
- Divided attention - the ability to distribute attention over a range of competing inputs
What results were found in the Continuous Flash Suppression test?
Accuracy on rotation was higher when naked image is of sexual preference
What were the results of the shadowing/dichotic listening experiment?
Pts could not:
1. Remember the contents of the message
2. Recognise the language of the message
3. Tell if speech was reversed
4. Tell if the language changed
Pts could:
1. Tell if the message was a voice or noise
2. Tell if a voice changed from male to female
3. Detect a sudden tone
Describe Broadbent’s Filter Theory
Perception –> (many arrows) Sensory buffer –> (many arrows) Selective filter –> (one arrow) Limited Capacity Processor
The filter selects information on the bases of its gross physical properties (pitch, loudness etc)
Discuss evidence that information beyond the “physical” is processed
Pts showed skin conductance responses to shock associated words despite not reporting hearing the word
Pts shadow meaning if channels are switched
What does shadowed mean?
Copying back what was presented to the ear
What is misdirection?
We only process information at fixation
Why is it that we are more likely to see how a magic trick is done when we are drunk?
Attentional processes don’t work as well after drinking
What is the difference between our attention in parallel searches vs serial searches?
Parallel searches - just as quick to find odd one (e.g. doesn’t matter how many green dots, can always spot red one)
Serial searches - more green dots added when looking for green square takes longer to spot
Does basic feature analysis occur in parallel or serial searches?
Parallel - targets defined by single feature stand out instantly
Who proposed the feature integration theory?
Triesman (1988)
Describe Posner (1980) experiment on the focus of attention
Developed a cueing paradigm and demonstrated attentional enhancements without eye movements
Pts simply press a button as soon as they see a target in one of the two flanking boxes
Valid cues facilitated reaction times
Invalid cues inhibited reaction times
