Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology - Attention and Consciousness

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on key concepts of attention and consciousness from the lecture notes.

Attention

The narrowing of awareness to a particular part of the sensory environment.

Consciousness

The level of responsiveness of the mind to impressions made by the senses.

Automatic processes

Processes that can be performed with little focused attention and occur unconsciously.

Top-down processing

Mental processes driven by cognition that focus attention on specific stimuli.

Bottom-up processing

Mental processes driven by sensory input that influences attention.

Inattention blindness

Failing to notice something while performing another task.

Change blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment when not expecting them.

Alerting network

A brain network that maintains alertness and rapidly processes stimuli.

Orienting network

A brain network that prioritizes specific sensory modalities or locations in space.

Executive network

A brain network involved in top-down control of attention and cognitive functions.

Neural synchrony

A mechanism where attention systems synchronize neuron activity to enhance information processing.

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Brain region involved in executive functions and attention control.

Medial frontal cortex

Brain region associated with consciousness and self-awareness.

Posterior cingulate cortex

Brain area thought to be involved in consciousness and emotional processing.

Self-control

The ability to regulate cognition and emotions, associated with specific brain regions.

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, characterized by hyperactivity and concentration issues.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, involving difficulty disengaging from fearful stimuli.

OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, characterized by recurring thoughts and behaviors.

Executive function

Cognitive processes that regulate and control thoughts and actions.

Neural substrates of consciousness

Brain regions that are specifically involved in producing conscious experience.

Integrated information theory

A theory positing that consciousness is structured and consists of integrated information.

Dynamic Core Hypothesis

Posits that conscious experience requires a highly integrated and distributed cluster of neurons.

Multisensory stimuli

Stimuli that involve multiple sensory modalities.

Cognitive control

The ability to manage thoughts and emotions, often affected by stress.

Arousal

The state of alertness and responsiveness to stimuli.

Subjectivity

The personal, unique experience of consciousness.

Unity of consciousness

The blending of various sensory modalities into a single experience.

Intentionality

The quality of consciousness that directs focus towards specific objects or thoughts.

Neuropsychiatric conditions

Disorders that involve both neurological and psychiatric symptoms.

Attention capacity

The limited mental resource available for processing information.

Pulvinar

A thalamic nucleus that helps direct attention across the cortex.

ITG (Inferotemporal Gyrus)

A brain region involved in the processing of visual objects.

Feedback processing

The brain's ability to use information from previous sensory input for current processing.

Hypothalamus

Brain region involved in regulating alertness and arousal.

Dementia

A decline in cognitive function, impacting consciousness and awareness.

Behavioral response

Actions taken based on attention and processing of stimuli.

Interpretative awareness

The understanding of one's own conscious states and actions.

Memory systems

Brain systems involved in storing and retrieving information, linked to consciousness.

Experimental evidence

Research findings that support theories of attention and consciousness.