Attention

Question 1

Attention definition (James)

Answer 1

Concept of attention derives from the common experience that physically identical stimuli are perceived at different moments with different degrees of subjective clearness

Question 2

Mirsky’s model of attention

Answer 2

5 attentional functions

1. Focus/execute: ability to attend to a task, ignore distraction, & respond appropriately. Involves parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex, corpus striatum.
2. Shift: capacity to shift attentional focus easily. PFC & Cingulate Gyrus
3. Sustain: capacity to maintain focus over time while responding accurately - brainstem, midline thalamus, and related structures
4. Encode: capacity to store information briefly in order to perform an operation on it (amygdala, hippocampus, & surrounding structures)
5. Stabilize: Capacity to maintain a steady and stable response rhythm (locus is uncertain; possibly related to “variability locus” in right ventrolateral PFC and right anterior cingulate cortex)

Question 3

Heilman and Valenstein model of Attention

Answer 3

REVIEW THIS

Question 4

Luck & Hillyard Model of Attention

Answer 4

Argue that attention solves the binding problem; that the correct question is under what conditions attention is required!

• poor signal to noise ratio
• speeded response or perception needed
• when stimuli are difficult to detect or discriminate
• detection of embedded stimuli among similar ones
• inhibition of strong response
• complex stimuli or response

Question 5

Posner Model of attention

Answer 5

The brain localizes operations much smaller than global tasks such as reading - each operation can be designated by input and output

5 attention networks
1. Tonic Arousal: dependent on the RH (measured by CPT) - affects dorsal but not ventral visual pathway

2. Alerting: locus coeruleus, norepinephrine, diffuse projections to cortex
3. Orienting: Shifting attention to location, modality or specific stimulus, acetycholine from basal forebrain structure projects to other parts of cortex.
   - Disengage: parietal lobe
   - Move: midbrain
   - Engage: pulvinar

*** alerting and orienting appear independent (NE vs. ACH, not correlated, orienting improves with cues independent of alertness