ATTENTION Flashcards
(12 cards)
WHAT IS ATTENTION
cognitive process of selectively focusing on certain pieces of information while ignoring other stimuli in the environment.
ATTENTION DISORDERS
CONDITIONS WHERE ATTENTION PROCESSES ARE DISRUPTED
MODELS OF ATTENTION
1) BROADBENTS FILTER MODEL (1958)
2)TREISMAN’S ATTENUATION MODEL (1964)
3) DEUTSCH & DEUTSCH LATE SELECTION MODEL (1963)
BROADBENTS FILTER MODEL (1958)
-TYPE - EARLY SELECTION
- ATTENTION ACTS AS A FILTER AT THE EARLY STAGES OF PROCESSING, BASED ON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (E.G., PITCH, LOUDNESS, LOCATION).
- ONLY SELECTED INFORMATION PASSES THROUGH FOR FURTHER PROCESSING, REST IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED
-EXAMPLE: AT A NOSY PARTY, YOU CAN FOCUS ON ONE VOICE BASED ON ITS LOCATION OR TONE
TREISMAN’S ATTENUATION MODEL (1964)
-TYPE: EARLY SELECTION (MODIFIED)
-INSTEAD OF AN ALL-OR NOTHING FILTER, TREISMAN PROPOSED AN ATTENUATOR THAT WEAKENS UNATTENDED INFORMATION BUT DOES NOT BLOCK IT COMPLETELY
-MEANINGFUL OR IMPORTANT UNATTENDED STIMULI (LIKE YOUR NAME) CAN STILL BE NOTICED IF RELEVANT.
-EXAMPLE: EVEN WHILE FOCUSED ON A CONVERSATION, YOU MIGHT STILL HEAR YOUR NAME MENTIONED ACROSS THE CROSS
DEUTSCH & DEUTSCH’S LATE SELECTION MODEL (1963)
TYPE: LATE SELECTION
-SUGGESTS ALL INFORMATION IS PROCESSED FOR MEANING, AND SELECTION OCCURS ONLY AFTER FULL ANALYSIS
- DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO RESPOND OR ACT ON HAPPENS AT THE RESPONSE STAGE
-E.G - ALL CONVERSATIONS IN THE ROOM = PROCESSED FOR MEANING BUT YOU CONSCIOUSLY RESPOND ONLY TO WHATS MORE RELEVANT
KEY CONCEPTS:
COCKTAIL PARTY EFFECT: THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON A SINGLE CONVERSATION IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT BUT STILL NOTICE UNATTENDED STIMULI, (E.G., YOUR NAME)
CAPACITY THEORIES: ATTENTION = LIMITED CAPACITY. TASKS DEMAND MENTAL RESOURCES, AND PERFORMANCE DECLINES WHEN DEMANDS EXCEED CAPACITY.
SPOTLIGHT MODE: ATTENTION WORKS LIKE A SPOTLIGHT, FOCUSING ON A SMALL AREA FOR DETAILED PROCESSING.
FEATURE INTEGRATION THEORY (TREISMAN, 1980): ATTENTION BINDS DIFFERENT FEATURES TO PERCEIVE UNIFIED OBJECTS.
NEURAL MECHANISMS OF ATTENTION
-ATTENTION INVOLVES MULTIPLE BRAIN AREAS:
1)PREFRONTAL CORTEX - CONTROL AND DECISION MAKING
2) PARIETAL LOBE: SPATIAL ATTENTION
3) ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX: CONFLICT MONITORING AND SELECTIVE ATTENTION
-NEURAL NETWORKS REGULAR ATTENTION BY ENHANCING RELEVANT SIGNALS AND SUPPRESSING IRRELEVANT ONES
APPLICATIONS AND DISORDERS
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD): CHARACTERIZED BY PROBLEMS WITH SUSTAINED AND SELECTIVE ATTENTION
NEGLECT SYNDROME: DAMAGE TO ONE HEMISPHERE (USUALLY RIGHT) LEADS TO IGNORING STIMULI ON ONE SIDE
EXPERIMENTAL TASKS
DICHOTIC LISTENING TASK: PARTICIPANTS HEAR DIFFERENT MESSAGES IN EACH EAR AND ARE ASKED TO ATTEND TO ONE
STROOP TEST: MEASURES SELECTIVE ATTENTION BY ASKING PARTICIPANTS TO NAME THE INK COLOUR OF COLOUR-WORDS THAT CAN BE CONGRUENT OR INCONGRUENT
VISUAL SEARCH TASK: TEST HOW ATTENTION SELECTS TARGETS AMONG DISTRACTORS
NEGLECT
(HEMISPATIAL NEFLECT)
A neuropsychological condition where a person ignores one side of space, usually due to damage to right parietal lobe.
FOR EXAMPLE: A PERSON MIGHT EAT FOOD FROM ONLY ONE SIDE OF THEIR PLATE OR DRAW HALF A CLOCK
WHAT IT SHOWS ABOUT ATTENTION:
-Attention controlled by specific brain regions
Right hemisphere plays a key Rome in spatial attention for both sides of space, while the left focuses more on the right
shows attention isn’t bout seeing stimuli - about processing them
ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Definition: A neurodevelopment disorder, symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsitivity.
-linked to dysfunctions in prefrontal cortex & imbalance in neurotransmitters like dopamine and noradrenaline
WHAT IT SHOWS ABOUT ATTENTION:
-Attention involves executive control processes that manage focus, task-switching, and impulse control
-suggests attention isn’t simple process - requires active regulation by brain systems
highlights the importance of neurotransmitters in attention control
