Attention Flashcards
Describe the spotlight theory and support for it
Mental spotlight activates information from spacial regions - whatever is in the spotlight is attented
support: attentional cueing (where a square is highligthed and then spot is shown either in it or next to it fx)
exogenous cues: externally generated cues (ie flash - reflexes, automatic) - buttom-up
endogenous cues: internally generated cues (ie controlled, arrow shows you where square will appear fx) - top down
Describe the zoom lens theory and support for it
modification of spotlight theory: area of focus can be adjusted with task demands
support: 5 letter word with probe in middle –> attentional spotlight can be used either narrowly (identify 1 letter) or broadly (identify word)
May be more complex: ring experiment - spatial attention was better when the ring was cued - attentional shift
Describe what happens in attentional shifts
attention can shift from one location to another without cost for the travelled distance –> spatial attention can be split across 2 locations
What are the 2 networks in visuo-spatial attention?
- Posterior: expression of attention
- Anterior: control of attention
Describe the 3 interacting systems in the posterior network
- Disengagement of attention: posterior parietal lobe: permits processing to end
- Shift of attention: Superior culliculus (eye movement and location map: allows attention to be moved
- Engagement of attention: pulvinar Thalamus: Blocks input from unattended sources
Describe what has been found from patients with unilateral damage
The neglect syndrome: patients don’t acknowledge things in the hemisphere opposite their lesions (often left because that is represented by both hemispheres) - think half-drawn watch - still see illusory pictures so not due to visual damage
what is meant by pseudoneglect in healthy people?
attentional bias in brain for left side of space –> right hemisphere more specialised for spatial processing (think actors come in from right when want to be unnoticed)
What is object-based attention and support for it
Attention can be given to objects as well as being spacial (think if there is 2 objects on top of each other we can choose what we see)
support: 2 images overlapping, describe one - later only remember the one they described –> object based attention
What is the evidence for attional prioritise of objects over spatial?
It’s easier to judge 2 attributes belonging to one object than the same belonging to different objects eventhough spatial distance is the same (think are there 2 open notches)
Describe the response competition paradigm
make response to underlined letter ignore other –> quicker response if the letters are the same
Low perceptual load: Ie identify central letter, but only respond if the shape next to it is red
High perceptual load: Ie identify central letter, but only respond if the shape next to it is red (not blue, green or yellow) and a square
–> distractor letter bigger impact under low load
What happens to unattended stimuli?
- will not be processed if perceptual load is high
- Because of spill over of resources, unattended stimuli will be processed when perceptual load is low
What is found in the emotional stroop task?
That it is harder to name colours of words if they are threatening (compared to neutral)
Same goes for pictures and faces (ie spiders vs flowers / angry vs neutral)
What could be an explanation for the threat bias?
Amygdala feedback system boosts neural activation representing emotional information –> competitive bias
Support: Normal people missed threatening words less than people with damage to amygdala
Is the threat bias automatic?
It is found that amygdala is activated even when attention was given to threat (so automatic). The opposite is also found when attention is really focused away from threat (maybe not fully automatic)
- mixed results due to perceptual load?
