Attention Key terms Flashcards
Ascending reticular activating system( brainstem that regulates)
A network in the brainstem that regulates wakefulness and alertness.
Attention
The cognitive process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
Biased
Influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, or preferences.
Bottom-up mechanism
Processing driven by sensory input rather than prior knowledge.
Brain death
Irreversible loss of all brain activity, including in the brainstem.
Central cue
A stimulus presented at the center of attention to direct focus.
Change blindness
Failure to notice large changes in a visual scene.
Coma
A deep unconscious state with no response to stimuli.
Contents of consciousness
The specific thoughts, perceptions, and experiences currently in awareness.
Covert misdirection( magic)
A trick used in magic or deception to shift attention without being noticed.
Dualism
he philosophical view that the mind and body are separate entities
Endogenous
Internally driven, such as voluntary attention shifts.
Ensembles( groups)
Groups of neurons that work together to represent information.
Exogenous
Externally driven, such as attention shifts due to sudden stimuli.
Extinction( The inability to )
The inability to perceive a stimulus on one side when a competing stimulus is present.
Feature selectivity( specific visual)
The ability of neurons to respond to specific visual features like edges or colors.
Functionalism( mental states are defined)
A theory that mental states are defined by their function rather than their physical makeup.
Gain( enhance)
The amplification of neural signals to enhance perception or attention.
Global workspace theory ( widespread)
A theory proposing that consciousness arises from widespread neural activity sharing information.
Higher-order theory( suggesting consciousness)
A theory suggesting consciousness depends on the brain representing its own mental states.
Hyperpolarized( negative)
When a neuron’s membrane potential becomes more negative, making it less likely to fire.
Inattentional blindness
Failure to notice visible objects because attention is focused elsewhere.
Information states
Different levels of information processing in the brain.
Integrated information theory
A theory proposing that consciousness depends on the brain’s ability to integrate information.
Intralaminar nuclei( Thalamic structures)
Thalamic structures important for attention and consciousness.
Involuntary
Actions or processes that happen without conscious control.
Local field potential( small brain)
The combined electrical activity of neurons in a small brain region.
Masking
A technique where a stimulus is hidden by another, preventing conscious perception.
Memory
The ability to store and retrieve information over time
Minimally conscious state( awareness but limited)
A condition with some awareness but limited ability to communicate or respond.
Neural correlates of consciousness
Brain activity patterns associated with conscious experience.
Non-REM sleep
Sleep stages without rapid eye movement, important for deep rest.
Oddball paradigm( task)
A task where rare stimuli appear among frequent ones to study attention and perception.
Orienting paradigm
A research method that measures how attention shifts to different stimuli.
Parahippocampal place area( places and scenes)
A brain region involved in recognizing places and scenes
Perceptual rivalry( brain alternates between)
When the brain alternates between different interpretations of an ambiguous stimulus.
Phasic( short- term)
Short-term, rapid changes in neural or physiological activity.
Reaction time benefit( Faster responses)
Faster responses due to attention or expectation.
Reaction time cost
Slower responses due to distraction or incorrect expectations.
Signal-to-noise ratio
The clarity of useful information relative to background noise.
State of consciousness
The level of awareness and responsiveness to the environment.
Stereoscope
A device that presents different images to each eye to create depth perception.
Synchronization( activity across)
The coordination of neural activity across different brain regions.
Temporoparietal junction( social)
A brain area involved in social cognition and attention shifts.
Tonic( sustained activity)
Sustained activity over time, such as continuous muscle tension or neural firing.
Top-down mechanism
Processing influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, or goals
Vegetative state( A condition of wakefulness)
A condition of wakefulness without awareness or meaningful interaction.
Voluntary
Actions or processes controlled by conscious intention.
