Chapter 7: Attention and Scene Perception Flashcards
(21 cards)
Attention
Set of “Selective Processes”
-Allows Focus
-Allows Withdrawal
-Helps prevent distraction
-Guides the eyes and other senses
Selective Attention
Restricting processing to a subset of all possible stimuli
External v. Internal Attention
External: Attending to stimuli in the world
Internal: Attending to one line of thought
Overt v. Covert Attention
Overt: Directing your eyes toward a stimulus
Covert: Attending in space without moving your eyes
Divided v. Sustained Attention
Divided: Splitting Attention between two different inputs
Sustained: Continuously monitoring one input/stimulus
Posner’s Spatial Cuing Task
-Used for spatial attention
-Cue precedes probe
-RT to probe are measured based on the cues validity (Valid cues = faster response)
Visual Search
Looking for target in a display containing distracting elements
Visual Search Task
-Target is the objective
-Distractor is anything other than the target
-Set Size is how many items in visual field
-Increase in RT across set size
Feature Search
-Efficient (Slope = 0 MS/item)
-Attention distributed parallel
-One feature differs
Conjunction Search
-Less Efficient (slope > 10ms/item)
-Target is a feature combination
-Attention distributed serially
-Multiple types of distractors
Guided Search
-Basic features guide search such as color shape and size
-Attention is restricted to a subset of items
Binding Problem
-Tying different features of objects together
-Issue because they are handled by different circuits
-Problem is shown through conjunction searches
Feature Integration Theory
Binding and Search occur across two stages
-Preattentive and Attentive
FIT-Preattentive Stage
-Process basic features in parallel
-Occurs before selective attention
-Evidence from illusory conjunctions
FIT-Attentive Stage
-Binds basic features together
-Attention is the binder
-Evidence from inefficient conjunction searches
Scene Perception
-Humans Recognize scene gist quickly
-Overt and covert shifts in attention
Pathways to scene perception
-Nonselective pathway
-> Detects the distribution of features and “gist”
-Selective Pathway
-> Allows recognition of a few objects at a time
Change Blindness
Three Neural Effects of Attention
- Response Enhancement-Neurons fire more strongly when attention is directed to their preferred stimulus
- Sharper Tuning-Attention narrows the range of stimuli to which a neuron responds making it more selective
- Altered Tuning- The actual preferences of neurons can shift, meaning a neuron might become more responsive to a different stimulus than before when attention is involved
Visual Field Defects
-Caused by parietal lobe damage
