Attention

Question 1

Attention

Answer 1

Means of directing limited mental resources towards information and processes that are most important at a given moment.

Question 2

Cocktail Party Effect

Answer 2

Some information in the unattended channel is noticed (eg name or personally relevant words).

Question 3

Stroop Effect

Answer 3

A demonstration of automacity. Need to focus on the colour rather than the word.

Question 4

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 4

A distracted person may be unable to see something that is right in front of them.

Question 5

Change Blindness

Answer 5

Inability to notice changes between scenes (spot the difference or continuity errors).

Question 6

Early Selection Models

Answer 6

Unattended channel receives little analysis (Filter Model, Attenuation Model).

Question 7

Broadbent’s Filter Model

Answer 7

There is a register and filter for each sense. Filters carry out pre-attentive analysis on physical attributes of stimuli and the selected stimuli is moved to the detection device and STM.
Support: physical content of unattended channel can be recalled. Neurological evidence of different activity between attended and unattended channels.
Limitations: blocking unattended is only part of attention and doesn’t explain selective attention or cocktail party effect.

Question 8

Triesman’s Attenuation Model

Answer 8

Similar to filter model, but unattended channel is turned down not off (filter allows physical and salient information to be recalled).
Support: Cocktail party effect, neurological evidence like for filter model.
Limitations: no consideration of selective attention and pre-attentive analysis is almost as complex as attentive analysis.

Question 9

Late Selection Models

Answer 9

All input receives analysis but only the attended information is actually remembered (Deutsch and Deutsch).

Question 10

Deutsch and Deutsch

Answer 10

All input goes through the sensory register directly to the detection device. Stimuli is selected just prior to response and remembered.
Support: people can be influenced by distractors they are unaware of (Muller-Lyer with fins that disappear)
Limitations: neurological evidence exists for early selection models as well.

Question 11

Capacity Models

Answer 11

Attention is not a filter, it is a resource that is allocated across tasks depending on what is most important at a given moment (Multimode theory).

Question 12

Multimode Theory

Answer 12

We have different attentional resources for each sense and use these to focus on the activities that are important at a given moment.
Support: Tasks using different senses have reduced interference (eg shadowing and hearing a list is hard, but shadowing and reading the list or seeing pictures is easier.
Limitations: we still experience interference even if tasks are different (driving/mobile phones).

Question 13

Priming

Answer 13

A process through which one input prepares a person to receive another.

Question 14

Unilateral Neglect

Answer 14

Individual cannot attend to inputs from one side of space.

Question 15

Divided Attention

Answer 15

Skill of performing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Question 16

Factors Influencing Dual-Task Performance

Answer 16

Similarity of tasks (both verbal or using different brain areas), difficulty of tasks (cognitive resources required) and practice (is the task automatic or new).

Question 17

Dichotic Listening

Answer 17

Tasks where participants listen to two channels but are instructed to only pay attention to one.

Question 18

Perseveration error

Answer 18

A pattern of responding in which the individual produces the same response each time, even though they know they need to respond differently. Often seen in brain damaged people.

Question 19

Goal Neglect

Answer 19

A pattern of behaviour in which individuals fail to keep their goal in mind and rely on habitual responses.

Question 20

Automacity

Answer 20

A state achieved where tasks can be performed with little or no attentional resources. Can be combined with other tasks with minimal interference and are often difficult to not do.