Attention and Consciousness Flashcards
Attention
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)
Consciousness
Q
Awareness in modern psychology: In order to perceive, we have to make assumptions/inferences. It is “about” things.
Explicit Task
Trying/Conscious
When you are TRYING to learn, pay attention to, or perceive it is a ________.
Implicit Task
When you are NOT trying to pay attention to, learn, or perceive it is a _________.
Unconcious
Filtering/Gating
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
Binding
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
Holding
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.
Indexing
Enables individuation of selected items. “To see it not just as an object but as a particular object.
Stroop Effect
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
Unilateral Spatial Neglect
Lack of awareness of the side of space opposite to the brain hemisphere that is damaged.
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
Perceptual Neglect
Representational Neglect
Only being able to see one side of visual field in mental image/representation
Implicit Processing in Neglect
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.
Disorder linked to impairments in Attention include ________.
ADHD
working memory deficit
dementia
frontal lobe impairments
The five types of attention
Sampling
Filtering
Binding
Holding
Indexing
Sampling
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
Automaticity
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
Lang’s definition of emotional state
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).
William James’ views on the unconscious In cognitive psychology
“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
Unconscious processes
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
Diffuse Attention
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)
Focused attention
Focused attention: input from only a small area; processing is slow, but less error-prone
(extent of gating)
Diffuse attention (extent of gating)
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
Focused attention (extent of gating)
Focused attention: input from only a small area; processing is slow, but less error-prone
common causes of visual neglect
middle cerebral artery stroke
unilateral brain injury
Procedural
Implict task –> riding a bike
Declarative
Explicit –> learned
recalling, memorizing a list of worse
Explicit learning
Acquiring information you have not had before,
Implicit learning
instinctual, learning faces, rules for grammar (procedural task)
Implicit thought
Based on implicit perception –> instinct is perceived implicilty
why is the guy at the bar scaring me
Priming
Technique in which introduction of one stimulus influences how people respond to a second stimulus
