Chapter 7: Attention

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to attention, its mechanisms, and disorders as discussed in Chapter 7.

What is selective attention?

Selective attention is the ability to focus awareness on one stimulus, thought, or action while ignoring other, irrelevant stimuli, thoughts, and actions.

How does arousal relate to selective attention?

Arousal is a global brain state ranging from deep sleep to hyperalertness, while selective attention pertains to what we choose to attend to within any level of arousal.

Which networks are involved in the control of attention?

Specific networks for the control of attention include cortical and subcortical structures.

What is unilateral spatial neglect?

Unilateral spatial neglect is a condition resulting from damage to brain areas that leads to reduced attention to the left side of scenes and objects.

What is extinction in terms of attention?

Extinction refers to the failure to perceive or act on stimuli contralateral to a lesion when presented simultaneously with ipsilesional stimuli.

What are the three main deficits in Bálint's syndrome?

The three main deficits are: difficulty perceiving the visual field as a whole, inability to guide eye movements voluntarily, and difficulty reaching for objects.

What are top-down and bottom-up processes in attention?

Top-down processes are voluntary and goal-directed, whereas bottom-up processes are reflexive and stimulus-driven.

What is the cocktail party effect?

The cocktail party effect is the ability to selectively attend to a particular stimulus (like a conversation) amid other background noises.

What is early-selection model in attention theory?

Early-selection models propose that stimuli can be selected for further processing before complete perceptual analysis.

What is the ventral attention network?

The ventral attention network is involved in responding to unexpected or salient stimuli and interrupts current attentional focus.

What role does the superior colliculus play in attention?

The superior colliculus coordinates eye movements and participates in the mechanisms of overt and covert attention.

What is feature integration theory?

Feature integration theory suggests that spatial attention must be directed to relevant stimuli to integrate features into a perceived object.

What is the difference between overt and covert attention?

Overt attention involves directly seeking out a stimulus, while covert attention refers to attending to stimuli without direct visual engagement.