attention Flashcards
Attention definition
actively focusing on particular information while simultaneously ignoring other information.
Internal stimuli definition
information or sensations that originate from within the body.
sustained attention definition
focusing on one stimulus or task across a prolonged, continuous time period.
external stimuli definition
information or sensations that originate from outside the body.
Three stages of sustained attention
- an indivudial focuses attention on the stimulus they wish to sustain attention towards
- attention is maintained on stimulus ( resulting from internal motivation to sustain attention and individual ability to focus)
- releasing sustained attention ( when the individual no longer needs to focus on the stimuli )
distraction definition
internal or external stimuli that draw attention away from the current task.
divided attention definition
splitting attention of two or more stimuli at one time, this type of attention involves multi-tasking, the act of working on multiple at one time.
Selective attention definition
exclusively focusing on a specific stimulus or task while ignoring all other stimuli or tasks
selective attention allocation ( 2 principles )
- predictive: focusing on stimuli that are personally meaningful and more important to us among other less meaningful stimuli
- uncertainty principle : attention is captured the most by unpredictable or unfamiliar stimuli