Task 4 Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the spotlight metaphor of attention?
The idea that attention is like a spotlight, enhancing certain stimuli while ignoring others.
What is inattentional blindness?
Failure to notice a fully visible object because attention is focused elsewhere.
What is attentional blink?
The temporary inability to detect a second target shortly after detecting the first in a rapid sequence.
What are the two main attention systems in the brain?
The dorsal attention system (voluntary control) and the ventral attention system (involuntary attention capture).
What brain areas are involved in voluntary attention control?
The prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, intraparietal sulcus, and frontal eye fields.
Which brain system is responsible for involuntary attention shifts?
The ventral attention system, primarily located in the right hemisphere.
What is the difference between top-down and bottom-up attention?
Top-down attention is goal-directed, while bottom-up attention is stimulus-driven.
What is covert vs. overt attention?
Covert attention is shifting focus without moving the eyes, while overt attention involves eye movement.
What is the role of the superior colliculus in attention?
It helps control eye movements and directs attention to salient stimuli.
How does the pulvinar of the thalamus contribute to attention?
It helps filter distractions and regulate covert spatial attention.
What is the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) responsible for?
Creating a “priority map” to determine which stimuli are most relevant for attention.
What is the early vs. late selection debate?
It questions whether attention filters information before or after significant processing.
What is biased competition theory?
Attention results from competition between stimuli, influenced by goals and expectations.
What is attention schema theory?
The idea that awareness is the brain’s internal model of attention, helping to control it efficiently.
What is the effect of attention on spatial resolution?
Attention can enhance spatial resolution, making peripheral objects clearer without moving the eyes.
How does perceptual pop-out work?
A highly distinct object in a visual field automatically captures attention, bypassing the need for serial search.
What brain regions are involved in visual attention shifts?
The superior colliculus, frontal eye fields (FEF), and posterior parietal cortex.
What is smooth pursuit, and how is it affected by attention?
It’s the ability to track a moving object with the eyes. It requires attention and is impaired by certain conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, PTSD).
What role does the frontal eye field (FEF) play in attention?
It helps control eye movements and shifts in spatial attention.
How does damage to the superior colliculus affect attention?
It can cause difficulties in shifting attention and slower responses to visual cues.
How is attention linked to saccades?
The dorsal visual stream and superior colliculus help coordinate eye movements towards salient stimuli.
What is the dorsal attention system responsible for?
Voluntary, goal-directed attention (e.g., focusing on a lecture).
What is the ventral attention system responsible for?
Involuntary attention shifts, such as reacting to unexpected stimuli.
How do the dorsal and ventral attention systems interact?
The dorsal system maintains focus, while the ventral system detects important stimuli that may require reorienting attention.
