Psychology: Attention

attention

a state in which cognitive resources are focused on certain aspects of the environment rather than on others

focused attention/selective attention

focusing on one thing in particular to the exclusion of others

divided attention

multitasking or swiftly switching attention between two or more tasks

multitasking

the ability to manage or perform multiple tasks simultaneously or switch attention rapidly between tasks

inattentional blindness

occurs when you fail to see something in your visual field because your attention is focused on what you’re doing

inattentional deafness

the failure to hear something that is perfectly audible when you are paying attention to your task or to a companion who is talking to you

change blindness

the ability to manage or perform multiple tasks simultaneously or switch attention rapidly between tasks

attentional blink

occurs when in the split second it takes for our visual attention to shift from one task to another

construct validity

refers to the extent to which a test or instrument measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure

external validity

refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to, or have relevance for, settings, people, times, and measures that are different from the ones used in the study.

top-down attention

a type of attention that is guided by beliefs, expectations, or prior knowledge, directing focus toward specific stimuli based on these cognitive factors

bottom-up attention

a passive, stimulus-driven cognitive process where external, salient stimuli (like bright colors or loud noises) automatically capture focus without conscious effort

dopamine

a crucial neurotransmitter and hormone that acts as the brain's chemical messenger for reward, motivation, pleasure, and motor control

covert attention

the psychological process of focusing mental resources on a specific stimulus or location in the visual field without moving the eyes or head

PET / fMRI / MEG

key functional neuroimaging techniques used in psychology and neuroscience to study brain activity in vivo

network model of attention

a system of three distinct, interacting neural networks: alerting (maintaining vigilance), orienting (selecting sensory input), and executive control (managing conflict and target detection)

parietal lobe

a major subdivision of the cerebral cortex located behind the frontal lobe, responsible for integrating sensory information, spatial awareness, and navigation

occipital lobe

the smallest of the four paired lobes in the cerebral hemisphere, located at the back of the brain (posterior region) underneath the occipital bone. responsible for interpreting visual stimuli like color, form, and motion,

right inferior frontal gyrus (RIFG)

a core node in the cognitive control network, essential for response inhibition (the ability to withhold a pre-potent or ongoing action), attention allocation, and executive control

noradrenaline / norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter and hormone responsible for alertness, arousal, and the "fight-or-flight" stress response

locus coeruleus

a small nucleus in the brainstem (pons) that acts as the primary site for synthesizing norepinephrine. it regulates arousal, attention, vigilance, and the stress response

ADHD

a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning or development

heritability

the manner in which characteristics and traits are passed on from parents to their offsprings

reductionism

the belief that complex human behaviors can be understood by breaking them down into simpler, more fundamental components, such as biological, cognitive, or environmental factors

determinism

he belief that all human behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are caused by preceding external or internal factors rather than free will

bidirectional ambiguity

the inability to determine whether variable A causes variable B, or if variable B causes variable A, in a correlational study. It occurs because researchers cannot establish, which factor is the cause and which is the effect

reflexivity

the active, ongoing process of a researcher or practitioner critically examining their own biases, beliefs, values, and experiences, and how these influence their work

environmental factors

all external influences—physical, social, and cultural—that shape an individual's thoughts, behaviors, and well-being, excluding genetic inheritance

screen time

the total duration spent interacting with electronic screens

attention-switching

the cognitive process of intentionally or automatically redirecting focus from one stimulus, task, or location to another

cognitive load

the total amount of mental effort or working memory resources used during learning or task execution

background noise

any irrelevant, ambient sound or auditory stimuli present in an environment that is not the focus of attention

noise sensitivity

a stable trait representing an individual’s internal physiological and psychological reactivity to environmental noise, regardless of its loudness

attention restoration theory

viewing or spending time in nature replenishes cognitive resources depleted by mental fatigue and directed attention fatigue

cognitive restoration

exposure to natural environments replenishes cognitive resources

working memory

a limited-capacity cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information during active thinking, comprehension, and reasoning tasks

cognitive flexibility

the mental ability to switch between thinking about different concepts, adapt behaviors to new or unexpected situations, and simultaneously consider multiple perspectives

attentional control

a person’s capacity to consciously or subconsciously direct focus toward relevant stimuli while inhibiting irrelevant distractions, aligning with current goals and intentions

cognitive model

a theoretical framework or computational simulation that explains how mental processes—such as perception, memory, and reasoning—function

Broadbent’s filter model of selective attention

suggests that individuals have limited attentional resoruces that they can use at once → information and stimuli are ‘filtered’ so that only the most important information is perceived

sensory register

the initial component of the memory system that acts as a buffer for stimuli received through the five senses

selective filter

a cognitive mechanism—often linked to selective attention—that enables the brain to focus on specific, relevant stimuli while ignoring irrelevant or distracting information

short-term memory

temporary storage system that holds information transferred from the sensory register - if attention is paid to the stimuli

long-term memory

the brain's system for storing vast amounts of information—knowledge, experiences, and skills—for periods ranging from minutes to a lifetime

cocktail party effect

occurs when an unattended background speaker mentions out name or something else of personal significance, we immediately recognize it

automatic processing

cognitive activities that occur rapidly, efficiently, and without conscious awareness or intent

controlled processing

a conscious, deliberate, and effortful mode of thinking that requires focused attention and cognitive resources

Automaticity model

the ability to perform behaviors or cognitive tasks without conscious thought, intention, or effort, usually following extensive practice

distinguish between automatic and controlled attentional processing

Stroop test

neuropsychological assessment of cognitive flexibility, attentional control, and processing speed

executive control

responsible for resolving conflict among responses, error detection, and cognitive control

culture

the shared, learned, and accumulated patterns of values, beliefs, behaviors, language, and rituals transmitted across generations within a group

WEIRD populations

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies, coined to highlight that most psychological research relies on a narrow, non-representative sample of humanity

cross-cultural research

the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes under diverse cultural conditions, comparing similarities and differences in thinking, emotions, and behavior

collectivist culture

a cultural pattern prioritizing group cohesion, harmony, and shared goals over individual desires

individualist culture

a society that prioritizes personal autonomy, self-reliance, and individual goals over collective group needs

holistic attention

an attentional style or cognitive process that focuses on the entire scene, object, or context, rather than separating it into individual parts or details

analytic attention

a cognitive approach that focuses on processing information by breaking it down into its individual components, features, or parts rather than perceiving the scene as a whole

context sensitivity

the ability to recognize environmental cues and adjust behaviors, emotions, or thoughts to fit the specific, changing demands of a situation. It involves detecting context cues—social, emotional

ecological fallacy

a logical error in psychology and social sciences where researchers or individuals falsely assume that trends observed at the group level (e.g., cities, schools, countries) apply to every individual within that group

enculturation

the lifelong psychological process by which individuals learn, internalize, and adopt the norms, values, behaviors, and language of their own culture, beginning in early childhood

theory triangulation

working together with different perspectives to come up with a conclusion