Cog: Paying Attention

Stroop Effect

The phenomenon that demonstrates automaticity of language; interference in color recognition due to conflicting word processing.

Sensory Memory

A memory system that retains information for a very brief period, like a second, including iconic and echoic memories.

Iconic Memory

A type of sensory memory that involves a lingering sensation of light, lasting about 200-500 milliseconds.

Echoic Memory

A sensory memory that lasts longer than iconic memory, typically around 4 seconds.

Serial Position Effect

The tendency to remember the first and last items in a series better than the middle items.

Primacy Effect

The improved recall for items at the beginning of a list.

Recency Effect

The improved recall for items at the end of a list.

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A psychological test used to measure implicit biases by assessing the speed of responses to stereotype-consistent vs inconsistent trials.

False Memory

Memory distortion that indicates long-term memory is not always accurate, often due to schema-based storage of information.

Dichotic Listening

A task where different audio inputs are presented to each ear to test selective attention and processing.

Inattentional Blindness

The failure to see a prominent stimulus right in front of one's eyes due to focused attention on other stimuli.

Change Blindness

The inability to detect changes in a scene, even when one is looking directly at it.

Early Selection Hypothesis

The theory that only the attended input is fully analyzed and perceived, while unattended information receives minimal analysis.

Late Selection Hypothesis

The theory that all inputs are analyzed; selection occurs after analysis and may affect perception.

Biased Competition Theory

A theory suggesting that attention creates a temporary bias in neural sensitivity to input based on expected stimuli.

Spatial Attention

The ability to focus attention on a specific location in space, impacting perception of stimuli.

Expectation-driven Priming

Priming that occurs due to anticipating inputs, which is deliberate and requires cognitive resources.

Repetition Priming

Priming resulting from prior encounters with a stimulus, generally automatic and requiring no cognitive effort.

Divided Attention

The ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, although performance may decline if tasks compete for the same cognitive resources.

Executive Control

Mechanisms that allow the control of thoughts and organization of goals; damage to the prefrontal cortex can impair this function.

Automaticity

The ability to perform tasks with little to no executive control, often due to extensive practice.