exam cogn 2

Ambiguity Resolution Theory

Proposes that visual selective attention's primary function is to resolve ambiguities in scenes with multiple objects by prioritizing specific interpretations.

Attention

A family of cognitive mechanisms that help us select, modulate, and sustain focus on relevant information.

Attentional Bias

The tendency to direct attention to certain types of stimuli over others, especially emotional stimuli.

Attentional Bias Modification (ABM)

A cognitive training technique that alters attentional biases, used in treating anxiety and emotional disorders.

Attentional Blink

A brief period after detecting a stimulus during which a person is less likely to notice a second stimulus.

Attentional Capture

The automatic attraction of attention by a sudden or salient stimulus.

Attenuator Model of Attention

Treisman’s theory that suggests the brain weakens unattended information rather than completely filtering it out.

Biased Competition Model of Attention

A theory stating different stimuli compete for neural processing, with attention influencing which stimulus wins.

Binding Problem

The challenge of how the brain integrates information from different sensory modalities to create a unified perception.

Blindsight

A condition where individuals with visual cortex damage respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness.

Bottom-Up Selection

A process where attention is automatically guided by stimulus-driven properties, such as brightness.

Broaden-and-Build Theory

Suggests that positive emotions broaden thought-action repertoires and build lasting personal resources.

Capacity-Limited

The idea that cognitive processing has a finite capacity, limiting the amount of information attended to at once.

Change Blindness

A failure to notice large changes in a visual scene that occur during a brief visual disruption.

Cocktail Party Problem

The difficulty of focusing on one auditory stimulus while filtering out multiple competing conversations.

Conjunction

A condition in attention research where multiple features must be combined to identify an object.

Contextual Cueing

A phenomenon where past experiences with visual contexts guide attention to relevant stimuli efficiently.

Continuous Performance Task (CPT)

A test measuring sustained attention and response control by requiring responses to specific stimuli.

Covert Attention

Shifting attention without moving the eyes or head, focusing mentally on something.

Dichotic Listening

A task where different auditory streams are presented to each ear, requiring selective attention.

Dot Probe Task

A cognitive test assessing how quickly a person responds to stimuli in previously cued locations.

Early Selection

A model proposing that filtering of stimuli occurs at an early processing stage before perceptual analysis.

Emotion-Induced Blindness

A phenomenon where emotionally salient stimuli disrupt awareness of subsequent visual stimuli.

Endogenous Cue

A cue that originates internally and voluntarily directs attention, like an arrow pointing in a direction.

Exogenous Cue

A stimulus-driven cue that captures attention automatically, like a sudden flash of light.

Explicit Attention

Conscious and deliberate focus on a specific stimulus or task.

External Attention

Attention directed toward external stimuli rather than internal thoughts.

Eye Tracking

Technology measuring eye movements and gaze patterns to study attention and visual processing.

Feature-Based Attention

A type of attention focusing on specific characteristics of stimuli, like color or motion.

Feature Integration Theory

Treisman's theory explaining how visual features combine through attention to form coherent perceptions.

Filter Model of Attention

Broadbent's theory suggesting attention acts as a bottleneck, filtering out unattended stimuli early.

Gabor Patches

Visual stimuli of sinusoidal gratings used in attention and vision research.

Gist

The overall meaning or summary of a scene perceived quickly without focusing on details.

Illusory Conjunctions

A phenomenon where features from multiple objects are mistakenly combined, indicating the need for attention.

Implicit Attention

Automatic, unconscious attention to stimuli without intentional focus.

Inattentional Blindness

Failure to notice unexpected objects in a visual scene when attention is engaged elsewhere.

Inhibition of Return (IOR)

A cognitive process discouraging reorienting attention to previously attended locations.

Late Selection

A model suggesting filtering occurs later in processing, after perceptual analysis.

Load Theory

A theory stating attentional resources are limited, processing of unattended stimuli depends on cognitive load.

Modulation

The process by which attention alters neural responses to sensory input.

Object-Based Attention

A theory suggesting attention is allocated to whole objects rather than just spatial locations.

Overt Attention

Directing attention by physically moving the eyes toward a stimulus.

Parallel Processing

Simultaneous processing of multiple stimuli or features, often in early visual perception.

Perceptual Load

The cognitive effort required to process a stimulus, affecting attention allocation.

Posner Cueing Task

A psychological test studying attention by measuring reaction times to targets in cued versus uncued locations.

Preattentive Processing

Automatic analysis of visual information before conscious attention is engaged.

Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) Task

A task presenting stimuli quickly at the same location, studying attentional processes.

Receptive Field

The specific area in the visual field that a neuron responds to.

Reflexive Attention

The automatic shifting of attention in response to an unexpected stimulus.

Saccades

Rapid eye movements that shift gaze from one point to another.

Saliency Map

A computational representation highlighting visually distinct areas likely to capture attention.

Selection

The process of choosing which stimuli to focus on while ignoring others.

Serial Processing

Step-by-step processing of information, as opposed to parallel processing.

Acoustic Similarity Effect

The phenomenon where similar-sounding words or letters are more likely to be confused in memory.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

A brain region involved in cognitive control, error detection, and conflict monitoring.

Articulatory Rehearsal Loop

A component of working memory where information is maintained through subvocal repetition.

Articulatory Suppression

A process disrupting the phonological loop by requiring irrelevant sounds to be repeated.

Attention Restoration Theory

Proposes that exposure to natural environments restores cognitive resources depleted by directed attention tasks.

Automatic Process

A mental process that occurs quickly and without conscious effort.

Central Bottleneck Model

A theory suggesting a processing bottleneck limits the ability to perform two cognitive tasks simultaneously.

Central Executive

A component of working memory that directs attention and manages cognitive processes.

Chunks

Meaningful units of information grouped together in working memory.

Cognitive Control

The ability to regulate thought and behavior according to goals or environmental demands.

Cognitive Interference

Disruption in cognitive processing caused by irrelevant thoughts or distractions.

Cognitive Load

The amount of working memory required to perform a task.

Cognitive Overlap

The degree tasks share mental resources, influencing multitasking performance.

Conflict Monitoring

The process of detecting and resolving cognitive conflicts.

Conflict Resolution

The ability to suppress competing cognitive processes to achieve a goal.

Controlled Process

A mental process requiring conscious effort and attention.

Digitspan Task

A memory test requiring recall of a sequence of numbers to measure working memory capacity.

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)

A brain region involved in executive functions like working memory.

Dualtask Experiments

Studies where participants perform two tasks simultaneously.

Ego Depletion

The concept that self-control is a finite resource impacting cognitive performance.

Emotion Regulation

Strategies used to influence emotions, including reappraisal and suppression.

Episodic Buffer

A component of working memory integrating information from different sources.

Error Detection

The ability to recognize mistakes in real-time.

Error-related Negativity (ERN)

A neural response signaling detection of errors.

Flanker Task

A cognitive task measuring attentional control using distracting stimuli.

Individuate

The process of distinguishing between similar stimuli or concepts.

Inhibition

The ability to suppress irrelevant information to maintain cognitive control.

Internal Attention

Allocation of cognitive resources to internally generated thoughts or plans.

Irrelevant Speech Effect

Disruption of verbal working memory performance by background speech.

Longterm Memory

A system for storing information over extended periods.

Manipulates

The process of modifying mental representations in cognitive psychology.

Mental Chronometry

The study of reaction times to infer cognitive processing speed.

Perceptual Interference

Disruption of perception and cognition by irrelevant sensory information.

Perseveration Errors

Repetition of incorrect responses observed in cognitive flexibility tasks.

Phonological Loop

A working memory component involved in storing and processing verbal information.

Phonological Store

A temporary storage system for verbal information within the phonological loop.

Prediction Error

The difference between expected and actual outcomes, important in learning.

Preparation Effect

Improved performance when given time to prepare for a task.

Proactive Control

Cognitive control where goal-relevant information is actively maintained.

Psychological Refractory Period

The delay in response when processing multiple stimuli in quick succession.

Reactive Control

Cognitive control adjustments made in response to unexpected demands.

Residual Switch Cost

The lingering cognitive cost of switching between tasks.

Resource

The mental capacity available for cognitive tasks.

Resource Model

Frameworks describing how cognitive resources are allocated among tasks.

Resource Sharing

The division of cognitive resources among multiple tasks.

Response Interference

Difficulty in task performance caused by competing responses.

Rumination

Repetitive, negative thinking that interferes with cognitive control.