Attention: Measures

Question 1

Give 3 reasons why attention is important

Answer 1

• Negative outcomes when it fails (e.g. while driving)
• Applied contexts (e.g. advertising)
• Clinical contexts (e.g. ADHD)

Question 2

What 2 theories are proposed for attention limitations?

Answer 2

• Limited capacity resource
• Processing bottleneck

Question 3

What are the 4 types of attention?

Answer 3

• Selective attention
• Sustained attention
• Divided attention
• Attention to different sensory modalities

Question 4

How can we study overt visual attention?

Answer 4

Tracking eye movements

Question 5

What are the methods of studying covert attention?

Answer 5

• Reaction time experiments
• Error rates
• Self-report
• Neuroimaging

Question 6

What is the assumption of reaction-time experiments?

Answer 6

Attention takes time to move around

Question 7

What are the 4 types of reaction-time experiments?

Answer 7

• Spatial cuing
• Visual search
• Distractor effects
• Attentional capture

Question 8

Explain the spatial cuing paradigm

Answer 8

• Responses are typically slower following invalid cues, suggesting spatial attention has moved to the cued location
• Works with endogenous and exogenous cues; covert spatial attention can be voluntary and involuntary

Question 9

Explain the visual search paradigm

Answer 9

Increasing non-targets:
- no effect on RT if target stands out
- slower RT if target is a conjunction
= serial search is required

Question 10

Explain the distractor effects paradigm

Answer 10

• Assume attention has been distracted by stimulus if it slows RT when irrelevant
• Responses slower when distractors incongruent
• Effect also observed in spatially separated distractors

Question 11

Explain the attentional capture paradigm

Answer 11

• Assume attention has been captured by stimulus if slows RT when irrelevant or speeds RT when target
• Colour singleton non-target slows search RT
• Colour singleton target speeds up search RT

Question 12

What task is used in error rates studies?

Answer 12

Sustained attention to response task

Question 13

What are error rates and self-report measures used for?

Answer 13

• testing effects of attention on awareness
• mind-wandering

Question 14

What brain regions selectively respond to specific stimulus categories?

Answer 14

• Fusiform Face Area (FFA)
• Parahippocampal Place Area (HPA)