Focused or selective attention
- mechanism by which certain information is registered and other information is rejected
- basically avoiding distraction
Capacity or divided attention
- refers to the upper limit of the amount of processing that can be performed on the incoming information at any one time
- max info that can be taken in
Dichotic listening
- feed different information into both ears at the same time
- the participant has to repeat one of the messages aloud
- this is called Shadowing
- Cherry
- used to test selective attention
Dual task technique
-an individual is asked to attend and respond to both or all incoming messages when different messages are said into each ear
Cocktail party effect
- describes the ability of people to be able to switch their attention rapidly to a non-processed message
- switching between messages occurs
Broadbent’s early selection filter theory
- our ability to process information is capacity limited
- a temporary buffer system receives all information and passes it to a selective filter
- one source is selected and others rejected
- processing two pieces of information will take longer and will be less efficient as switching takes up time
Triesman’s attenuation theory
-Triesman 1964 proposed that physical characteristics and semantic relevance (meaning) are used to select one message for full processing whilst other messages are given partial processing
Deutsch-Norman late selection filter model
- rejects Broadbent
- suggests filtering occurs only later after all inputs are analysed at a higher level
- aka pertinence model
Pigeon-holing
- Broadbent revised the early selection filter theory and stated that apart from filtering, pigeon holing can also take place
- information is filtered based on categorization
Automatic processing
- does not require conscious attention
- unaffected by capacity limits
- difficult to modify
e. g driving a car or listening to the radio
Controlled processing
-requires attention
-heavy demands
slow and capacity limited
-e.g revising
Closed loop control
- conscious attention
- when you are learning a skill
Open loop control
- when you have learnt a skill
- automatic process
Stroop test
- names of colours printed in different colours
- selective attention
Letter cancellation test
- like a wordsearch but have to identify letters
- tests selective attention
Focused attention
- ability to perceived individual items of information
- focus on one thing
Sustained attention
- maintain consistent behavioral response during continuous and repetitive activity
- aka vigilance or concentration
Selective attention
- ability to avoid distractions from internal or external cues and maintain a behaviour in the face of competing stimuli
- concentrate despite distractions
Alternating attention
-the ability of mental flexibility that allows individuals to shift their focus of attention and move between tasks
Divided attention
- the highest level of attention
- refers to the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks
A hierarchical model of attention
- Sohlberg and MAterr
- model of evaluating attention in a hierarchical fashion
- clinically useful in brain damaged patients
- uses attention training
- The model consists of five components of attention: focused attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention
Attention and schizophrenia
-may be overall genetic attentional abnormality for those with a genetic predisposition for psychosis
