Attention and Consciousness

Question 1

Attention

Answer 1

Contingently selective processing

Contingent: dependent on environment in which it happens
Selective: Not broad, discrete
Processing: activation of the neural networks

(but not a single entity or concept)

Question 2

Consciousness

Answer 2

Q
Awareness in modern psychology: In order to perceive, we have to make assumptions/inferences. It is “about” things.

Question 3

Explicit Task

Answer 3

Trying/Conscious

When you are TRYING to learn, pay attention to, or perceive it is a ________.

Question 4

Implicit Task

Answer 4

When you are NOT trying to pay attention to, learn, or perceive it is a _________.

Unconcious

Question 5

Filtering/Gating

Answer 5

The control of information considered relevant. Differentiating between signal and noise.

a. Controlled via changes in the neural connections (rather than physical forces on the eyes, as in sampling)

b. Two approaches to filtering: selection for and selection against
i. Facilitation (selection for): content is being expressed and enhanced
ii. Inhibition (selection against): content is being suppressed
c. The extent of gating: diffuse and focused
i. Diffuse attention: input from a large area result in considerable information being simultaneously accessible; processing is sped up, but prone to error
ii. Focused attention: input from only a small area; processing is slow, but less error-prone

Question 6

Binding

Answer 6

Beginning to perceive parts as a whole over time. The integrating of information necessary for building of a world with information.

All the properties relevant at a moment in time are appropriately linked and are connected to a particular position in space; Begin to perceive parts as a whole over time

Question 7

Holding

Answer 7

Maintaining attention creates coherent structure necessary to perceive continuity over time.

creating coherent structure necessary to perceive continuity over time

A critical role is played by visual short term memory (vSTM), which provides continuity over durations greater than a few hundred ms.

Question 8

Indexing

Answer 8

Enables individuation of selected items. “To see it not just as an object but as a particular object.

Question 9

Stroop Effect

Answer 9

Mismatch of color/word in a reading/color recognitive task often used as a mild stressor in studies.

Impact: shows us the capacity for selective attention

Question 10

Unilateral Spatial Neglect

Answer 10

Lack of awareness of the side of space opposite to the brain hemisphere that is damaged.

Question 11

the tendency to ignore one-half of the external space/environment. E.g., will eat from only the right half of their plate or fail to comb their hair or shave on their left side

Answer 11

Perceptual Neglect

Question 12

Representational Neglect

Answer 12

Only being able to see one side of visual field in mental image/representation

Question 13

Implicit Processing in Neglect

Answer 13

Information from the neglected field is being processed at a level below conscious awareness. Patients are not able to attend to the left half of their visual.

Question 14

Disorder linked to impairments in Attention include ________.

Answer 14

ADHD
working memory deficit
dementia
frontal lobe impairments

Question 15

The five types of attention

Answer 15

Sampling
Filtering
Binding
Holding
Indexing

Question 16

Sampling

Answer 16

Picking up information by the eye
a. The retina (in the central few degrees of visual angle, or foveal area) selectively samples incoming light
b. To compensate for poor visual pickup, the eye repositions via saccades (brief jumps

Question 17

Automaticity

Answer 17

control of one’s internal psychological processes by external stimuli and events in one’s immediate environment, often without knowledge or awareness of such control;

Automaticity is the ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low-level details required, allowing it to become an automatic response pattern or habit

Ex. flushing the toilet

Question 18

Lang’s definition of emotional state

Answer 18

bodily changes come first and form the basis of an emotional experience. Thus, emotions are caused by bodily sensations (you become happier when you smile, you are afraid because you run).

Question 19

William James’ views on the unconscious In cognitive psychology

Answer 19

“the sovereign means for believing what one likes in psychology and of turning what might become a science into a tumbling-ground for whimsies” (pg 184)

caution talking about unconscious (think freud)

William James did not oppose postulating unconscious processes

Question 20

Unconscious processes

Answer 20

Are processes that have automaticity

 Take little cognitive attention, allow for other cognitive tasks at the same time
 Outside of our awareness
 Evoked by specific stimuli – stimulus  response relationships

Question 21

Diffuse Attention

Answer 21

Diffuse attention: input from a large area result in considerable information being simultaneously accessible; processing is sped up, but prone to error

(extent of gating)

Question 22

Focused attention

Answer 22

Focused attention: input from only a small area; processing is slow, but less error-prone

(extent of gating)

Question 23

Diffuse attention (extent of gating)

Answer 23

c. The extent of gating: diffuse and focused
i. Diffuse attention: input from a large area result in considerable information being simultaneously accessible; processing is sped up, but prone to error

Question 24

Focused attention (extent of gating)

Answer 24

Focused attention: input from only a small area; processing is slow, but less error-prone

Question 25

common causes of visual neglect

Answer 25

middle cerebral artery stroke

unilateral brain injury

Question 26

Procedural

Answer 26

Implict task –> riding a bike

Question 27

Declarative

Answer 27

Explicit –> learned

recalling, memorizing a list of worse

Question 28

Explicit learning

Answer 28

Acquiring information you have not had before,

Question 29

Implicit learning

Answer 29

instinctual, learning faces, rules for grammar (procedural task)

Question 30

Implicit thought

Answer 30

Based on implicit perception –> instinct is perceived implicilty

why is the guy at the bar scaring me

Question 31

Priming

Answer 31

Technique in which introduction of one stimulus influences how people respond to a second stimulus