Attention Key terms

Question 1

Ascending reticular activating system( brainstem that regulates)

Answer 1

A network in the brainstem that regulates wakefulness and alertness.

Question 2

Attention

Answer 2

The cognitive process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

Question 3

Biased

Answer 3

Influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, or preferences.

Question 4

Bottom-up mechanism

Answer 4

Processing driven by sensory input rather than prior knowledge.

Question 5

Brain death

Answer 5

Irreversible loss of all brain activity, including in the brainstem.

Question 6

Central cue

Answer 6

A stimulus presented at the center of attention to direct focus.

Question 7

Change blindness

Answer 7

Failure to notice large changes in a visual scene.

Question 8

Coma

Answer 8

A deep unconscious state with no response to stimuli.

Question 9

Contents of consciousness

Answer 9

The specific thoughts, perceptions, and experiences currently in awareness.

Question 10

Covert misdirection( magic)

Answer 10

A trick used in magic or deception to shift attention without being noticed.

Question 11

Dualism

Answer 11

he philosophical view that the mind and body are separate entities

Question 12

Endogenous

Answer 12

Internally driven, such as voluntary attention shifts.

Question 13

Ensembles( groups)

Answer 13

Groups of neurons that work together to represent information.

Question 14

Exogenous

Answer 14

Externally driven, such as attention shifts due to sudden stimuli.

Question 15

Extinction( The inability to )

Answer 15

The inability to perceive a stimulus on one side when a competing stimulus is present.

Question 16

Feature selectivity( specific visual)

Answer 16

The ability of neurons to respond to specific visual features like edges or colors.

Question 17

Functionalism( mental states are defined)

Answer 17

A theory that mental states are defined by their function rather than their physical makeup.

Question 18

Gain( enhance)

Answer 18

The amplification of neural signals to enhance perception or attention.

Question 19

Global workspace theory ( widespread)

Answer 19

A theory proposing that consciousness arises from widespread neural activity sharing information.

Question 20

Higher-order theory( suggesting consciousness)

Answer 20

A theory suggesting consciousness depends on the brain representing its own mental states.

Question 21

Hyperpolarized( negative)

Answer 21

When a neuron’s membrane potential becomes more negative, making it less likely to fire.

Question 22

Inattentional blindness

Answer 22

Failure to notice visible objects because attention is focused elsewhere.

Question 23

Information states

Answer 23

Different levels of information processing in the brain.

Question 24

Integrated information theory

Answer 24

A theory proposing that consciousness depends on the brain’s ability to integrate information.

Question 25

Intralaminar nuclei( Thalamic structures)

Answer 25

Thalamic structures important for attention and consciousness.

Question 26

Involuntary

Answer 26

Actions or processes that happen without conscious control.

Question 27

Local field potential( small brain)

Answer 27

The combined electrical activity of neurons in a small brain region.

Question 28

Masking

Answer 28

A technique where a stimulus is hidden by another, preventing conscious perception.

Question 29

Memory

Answer 29

The ability to store and retrieve information over time

Question 30

Minimally conscious state( awareness but limited)

Answer 30

A condition with some awareness but limited ability to communicate or respond.

Question 31

Neural correlates of consciousness

Answer 31

Brain activity patterns associated with conscious experience.

Question 32

Non-REM sleep

Answer 32

Sleep stages without rapid eye movement, important for deep rest.

Question 33

Oddball paradigm( task)

Answer 33

A task where rare stimuli appear among frequent ones to study attention and perception.

Question 34

Orienting paradigm

Answer 34

A research method that measures how attention shifts to different stimuli.

Question 35

Parahippocampal place area( places and scenes)

Answer 35

A brain region involved in recognizing places and scenes

Question 36

Perceptual rivalry( brain alternates between)

Answer 36

When the brain alternates between different interpretations of an ambiguous stimulus.

Question 37

Phasic( short- term)

Answer 37

Short-term, rapid changes in neural or physiological activity.

Question 38

Reaction time benefit( Faster responses)

Answer 38

Faster responses due to attention or expectation.

Question 39

Reaction time cost

Answer 39

Slower responses due to distraction or incorrect expectations.

Question 40

Signal-to-noise ratio

Answer 40

The clarity of useful information relative to background noise.

Question 41

State of consciousness

Answer 41

The level of awareness and responsiveness to the environment.

Question 42

Stereoscope

Answer 42

A device that presents different images to each eye to create depth perception.

Question 43

Synchronization( activity across)

Answer 43

The coordination of neural activity across different brain regions.

Question 44

Temporoparietal junction( social)

Answer 44

A brain area involved in social cognition and attention shifts.

Question 45

Tonic( sustained activity)

Answer 45

Sustained activity over time, such as continuous muscle tension or neural firing.

Question 46

Top-down mechanism

Answer 46

Processing influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, or goals

Question 47

Vegetative state( A condition of wakefulness)

Answer 47

A condition of wakefulness without awareness or meaningful interaction.

Question 48

Voluntary

Answer 48

Actions or processes controlled by conscious intention.