Attention

Question 1

Stimuli in environment are all captured and passed through a selective filter at an early stage in processing

Answer 1

Broadbent’s early selection theory

Sensory register → selective filter → perceptual process → consciousness

Question 2

Stimuli are all fully processed, with filter placed later in processing, just before the entrance into working memory

Answer 2

Deutsch & Deutsch late selection theory

Sensory register → perceptual process → selective filter → consciousness

Question 3

Attenuator weakens input from unattended sensory input (rather than elimination by a filter)

Answer 3

Treisman’s attenuation theory

Sensory register → attenuator → perceptual process → consciousness

Question 4

Attention is analogous to a spotlight
Everything within the spotlight is attended to and preferentially processed

Answer 4

Spotlight model of attention

Question 5

Attention is a limited resource, such that it can be overextended with attempts to multitask or divert attention to multiple stimuli concurrently

Answer 5

Resource model of attention

Question 6

stimulus in the outside world ( e.g. car racing down the street)

Answer 6

distal stimulus

Question 7

stimulus patterns as perceived through senses (e.g. vibrations on tympanic membrane from loud engine)

Answer 7

proximal stimulus

Question 8

Shifting attention without associated overt eye movement

Answer 8

Covert orientating

Question 9

Shifting attention with associated overt eye movement

Answer 9

Overt orienting

Question 10

Motion of object captures attention

Answer 10

Attentional capture

Question 11

Damage to a portion of the brain resulting in lacking awareness and attention to part of the visual field

Answer 11

neglect syndrome

Example = hemineglect in stroke patients where they don’t acknowledge one side of visual field

Question 12

Maintaining concentrated attention or alertness over a period of time

Answer 12

Vigilance

Question 13

Becoming attentive of one’s surroundings
Function of the right hemisphere’s frontal and parietal lobes
Modulated by norepinephrine

Answer 13

Alerting

Question 14

Alignment and direction of attention toward a specific stimulus

Answer 14

orienting

Question 15

Three factors that influence multitasking

Answer 15

Task similarity, task difficulty, and practice.

Task similarity
More similar tasks = more difficult to multitask

Task difficulty
More difficult tasks require more attention

Practice
More practiced tasks require less attention

Question 16

Process of selectively concentrating on a specific piece of information

Answer 16

attention

Question 17

Individual processes multiple different information sources and carries out multiple tasks concurrently

Answer 17

divided attention

Question 18

Attention is “directed” to specific information or cognitive processes

Answer 18

Directed attention

Question 19

Directing attention while tuning out interfering stimuli

Answer 19

selective attention

Question 20

Managing conflict between multiple attention cues, keeping focus on one cue and blocking out distractions
Function of the ventral tegmental area and dopamine

Answer 20

Executive attention

Question 21

External cues that direct attention

Answer 21

Exogenous cues

Example = loud sound
Exogenous attention is driven bottom-up

Question 22

Knowledge required to understand the cue and the intention of said cue.

Answer 22

Endogenous cues

Example = green light at stop light
Endogenous attention is driven top-down

Question 23

Focusing on one conversation in a noisy room
More broadly, an extension of selective attention with regards to auditory attention

Answer 23

Cocktail party effect

Question 24

Failing to perceive a stimulus due to diversion of attention elsewhere
Also known as perceptual blindness

Answer 24

Inattentional blindness

Question 25

Change in visual field without observer noticing the change

Answer 25

change blindness

Example = your girlfriend paints her nails a different color and you do not notice