W6 - Attention Flashcards
what are the things we notice first when we have no cues to direct our attention?
the most salient thing
e.g a bright-coloured object
Bottom-up
- stimulus-driven
- salience: colour, loudness, size
- involuntary
Top-down
- goal-driven
- current needs: tasks, relevence
- voluntary
what kinds of stimulus distract us the most when we have no reward?
Positive stimulus
The Biased Competition Model of Attention
Sensory Competition between top-down modulation and bottom-up mechanisms
Sana et al. (2013) Experiment 1:
The Effect of Multitasking on Comprehension of Lecture Content
those that did not multitask, got a bigger proportion correct.
Sana et al. (2013) Experiment 2:
The Effect of Peer Distraction on Comprehension of Lecture Content
those with no view to multitasking got a higher proportion of content correct.
The Costs of Multi-tasking
What you miss
1. Attention is limited!
2. Dividing your attention - results in poor attention for everything.
The Switch Cost
1. When we switch tasks, we have to activate a whole new set of cognitive processes.
2. Switching takes time
iconic memory
vision - knitting together a series of snapshots to give the experience of a continue moving world
Echoic memory
hearing audio - takes all the little bits of sound and connects them
short-term/working memory
- attention to the current situation
- way in and out of long-term memory
Explicit (declarative) memory
semantic memory
episodic memory
Autobiographical Memory
Implicit (nondeclarative) memory
procedural memory
Working Memory Model - Central Executive
controls flow of
information into and out of LTM
Working Memory Model - Phonological Loop
auditory store, mostly language-based.
Working Memory Model - Visual-spatial Sketchpad
visual store, mostly imagery based.
Working Memory Model - Episodic buffer
Mental workspace that holds together all parts of our current perception or thought.
we lose this when we task switch
capacity and duration of short-term memory
5-10 items at a duration of < 1-4 sec
7+/- 2 verablly and 4+/-1 visually times at a duration of 30 sec
for long term the capacity could be unlimited and the duration forever
What evidence do we have that attention is limited? Provide at least two.
The Stroop Effect
Dual-Task Experiments
What is the difference between automatic and controlled processes?
automatic processes are quick, unconscious, and effortless, while controlled processes are slower, conscious, and require more mental effort. Over time, controlled processes can become automatic with practice.
How do processes become automatic?
Through consistent practice and feedback, complex, conscious tasks can become automatic, allowing people to perform them with minimal effort and attention.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of automaticity?
Advantages:
Improved efficiency
Increased speed
Enhanced multitasking ability
Reduced mental effort
Disadvantages:
Risk of errors
Difficulty in changing habits
Inflexibility
Mindless behavior
Balance automaticity with conscious control to maximize benefits and minimize drawbacks.
What are the key differences between Filter Theory, Attenuation Model, Late Selection Model, and Load Theory of attention? Can you describe experiments that support each theory?
- Filter Theory: Early, strict filtering based on physical traits.
- Attenuation Model: Early filtering, but unattended info is weakened, not eliminated.
- Late Selection: All info is processed for meaning; selection happens after meaning.
- Load Theory: The level of cognitive load determines when selection occurs.
How does the biased competition model explain what will be the focus of attention at any moment?
Attention is guided by both external stimuli (bottom-up) and internal goals (top-down). The most relevant stimulus, based on this balance, wins and becomes the focus of attention.
How does the study of attention help us in the real world?
The study of attention helps improve productivity, learning, technology design, safety, clinical treatments, communication, and marketing, making various aspects of life more efficient and effective.
