Group 1 Flashcards
Define attention
The means by which we actively process a limited amount of information from the enormous amount of information available through our senses, our stored memories, and our other cognitive processes
4 main functions of attention
- signal detection & vigilance
- search
- selective attention
- divided attention
Attention theories
- feature-integration theory
- similarity theory
- guided search theory
- theories of selective attention
- theories of divided attention
define feature-integration theory
a perceptual and attentional theory that explains how an individual combines pieces of observable information of an object in order to form a complete perception of an object
define similarity theory
focuses on the similarity between the target and distractor stimuli that increases the difficulty in detecting the target stimuli
define guided search theory
suggests that all searches, whether feature or conjunction, involve 2 stages: parallel stage and serial stage
define selective attention
process and an act of focusing on an object while simultaneously ignoring distractions or irrelevant information
Theories of selective attention
- cocktail party problem
- broadbent’s model
- selective filter model
- attenuation model
- late-filter model
define cocktail party problem
process of tracking one conversation in the face of distraction of other conversations
define broadbent’s model
proposes that humans can only process a limited amount of sensory information at any given time due to an attentional “bottleneck” or the slowing down of passing information
define selective filter model
messages that are of high importance to a person may break through the filter of selective attention
define attenuation model
proposes a later filtering mechanism in which the filter merely weakens the strength of the stimuli rather than blocking them out
define late-filter model
proposes an even later location of the filter that would allow people to recognize information entering the unattended ear
Theories of divided attention
attentional resources theory
define attentional resources theory
people have a fixed amount of attention that they can choose to allocate according to what the task requires
factors that influence our ability to pay attention
- anxiety
- arousal
- task difficulty
- skills
network model of attention
- alerting
- orienting
- executive attenntion
define alerting
being prepared to attend to an incoming event and maintaining this attention
define orienting
selection of stimuli to attend to
define executive attention
includes process of monitoring and resolving conflicts
define consciousness
an inherently subjective state of awareness of one’s own existence
define multiple drafts theory
consciousness does not occur in real time; our experience of it as direct and immediate is an illusion
brain structures involved in the conscious state
- brain stem
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- ascending projection pathways
- wide spread area in the cerebral cortex
consciousness pathway
- spinal cord
- brain stem
- thalamus
- cerebral cortex
- consciousness
define reticular activating system
highly excitable neurons that extends from spinal cord - brain stem - thalamus - all area to cerebral cortex
