Attention Pt. 1 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is Attention?
- The incoming input we decide to focus on (bottom-up processing)
- What our memory tells us what is important based on past experiences (top-down processing)
- What our unconscious decides to process on a deeper level
What are the Types of Attention?
External Attention and Internal Attention
External Attention
Attending to objects in the environment or to specific features of those objects
- Heavily based on sensory input
Internal Attention
Regulating our internal mental states
- Heavily based on management of STM and LTM
What is an example of External Attention
Sensory experiences, such as the temperature of the room or a bright light
What is an example of Internal Attention?
Daydreaming, deciding what show to put on TV
What type of processing is Stimulus Driven (External Attention)?
Bottom-up processing
What type of processing is Goal Directed (Internal Attention)?
Top-down processing
- Decision making is based on the interaction of STM and LTM
Why is External Attention Important?
Because we often experience overload! We need to use attention to lessen the strain of stimuli
What did Milgram (1970) find?
The negative impact of overload
1. Role Performance
2. The Evolution of social norms
3. Cognitive functioning – all of your cognition
Milgram (1970) – Role Performance
How well can you act in a role you’re given. Certain stimuli can disrupt the role you have
Milgram (1970) – The evolution of social norms
Paying attention to what we’re supposed to do vs not to do
Your ability to adhere to social norms plummets when you’re overloaded with information
Milgram (1970) – Cognitive functioning
All your cognitive processes (ie ability to tap into LTM, decision making, etc) will be compromised
What are some ways to mitigate overload?
- Spend less time on each input
- Disregard low-priority inputs
- Completely block off some sensory inputs (ie close your eyes)
What are the 2 Theories of Attention?
- Bottleneck Theories
- Capacity Theories
Bottleneck Theories
Explains filter process when many stimuli need to be reduced
Capacity Theories
Explain ability to perform tasks based on amount of Mental Effort (selection)
Broadbent (1954)
A dichotomous listening test where participants listened to 3 pairs of digits via telephones with separate audio input and the numbers were played simultaneously
Outcome of Broadbent (1954)
They were able to report 65% of the lists correctly, and almost all the correct reports involved recalling all the digits presented to one ear, followed by all the digits presented to the other ear
- Cannot pay attention to both at the same time!
Implications of Broadbent (1954)
- Sensory channels can receive more than one stimulus simultaneously (across all senses)
- Channels are specific and defined by the physical characteristics of the stimuli
- Only one channel at a time reaches pattern recognition stage
- Switching attention between channels requires both time and effort
Triesman (1960)
Presented research that contradicts Broadbent’s Filter Model; used selected listening test where participants were told to listen to a specific side.
What did Treisman’s Experiment Find?
- Participants would sometimes combine the information coming from the input they were supposed to ignore with the input they were supposed to shadow
- The intrusions from the unattended channel fit the semantic context better than the words on the attended channel
Why do Broadbent and Treisman’s Models Conflict?
- Broadbent said whatever doesn’t go through the filter gets thrown out
- However, in Treisman’s, we see that the other stimulus is actually received
What does Treisman’s Experiment tell us about attention?
- Information from the unattended ear must have been recognized
- Filter was not an “all-or-none” barrier
