Cognitive Processes - attention

What is attention?

The ability to focus on something while ignoring competing stimuli.

Why is attention important?

It allows us to tune out irrelevant information, sensations, and perceptions.

What affects attention duration?

Individual differences and task demands.

What is sustained attention?

Maintaining focus over time until a task is completed or time passes.

What is selective attention?

Focusing on relevant stimuli while ignoring distractions.

What is divided attention?

Managing multiple tasks at once (depends on practice and task type).

What is alternating attention?

Switching focus between tasks or stimuli.

What is focused attention?

Responding quickly to a specific stimulus.

What did Cherry, 1953 find about processing without attention?

You recall better for attended speech

What could still be noticed in unattended speech (Cherry, 1953)?

Foreign language

Reversed speech

Changes (speech → tone)

What is Broadbent's theory of attention?

Attention acts as a bottleneck filtering information early by physical characteristics

What is Treisman's attenuation model?

Irrelevant information is processed weakly so can't remember details

Personal information gets through

What is Posner's spotlight model?

Attention acts like a spotlight focusing on specific areas - info in these areas are fully processed

What happens outside the spotlight?

Information is less processed and remembered.

What does Eriksen and St James' zoom lens model propose?

Attention can widen or narrow - wider focus = less detail

What improves attention?

Healthy lifestyle

Motivation and interest

Familiarity and expertise

Clear goals and structure

What reduces attention?

Sleep deprivation

Distractions (internal/external)

High cognitive load (multitasking)

Stress and anxiety

What are common signs of attention difficulties?

Careless mistakes

Poor sustained attention

Appears not to listen

Difficulty sitting still

Not completing tasks

How does ASD affect attention?

Hyperfocus on specific interests

Difficulty shifting attention

Overwhelmed by background stimuli

How does TBI affect attention?

Fatigue → reduced sustained attention

Slower processing

Increased distractibility

How does ADHD affect attention?

Poor sustained attention

Distractibility and forgetfulness

Impulsivity (interrupting)

How does dementia affect attention?

Difficulty with divided attention

Wandering attention

Safety concerns

How does stroke affect attention?

Hemispheric neglect

Reduced sustained attention

Increased cognitive load

What is attention dysregulation?

Impaired selective attention (difficulty filtering relevant vs irrelevant information).

What is hemispheric neglect?

Failure to attend to one side of space due to brain damage (not a visual deficit).