What is attention?
The ability to selectively focus on certain information while ignoring other inputs.
What is selective attention?
Focusing on a subset of perceptual information reaching the senses.
What is the dichotic listening task?
A task where different messages are presented to each ear to study selective attention.
What is early selection theory?
Attention filters information before semantic processing.
What is late selection theory?
All information is processed to the level of meaning before selection.
What evidence supports late selection?
Cocktail party effect and shadowing studies showing semantic processing of unattended input.
What is the spotlight metaphor of attention?
Attention selects a region of space for enhanced processing.
What is overt vs. covert attention?
Overt involves eye movements; covert shifts attention without eye movement.
What is the Posner cueing paradigm?
A task measuring spatial attention using valid and invalid cues.
What is exogenous orienting?
Automatic, stimulus-driven attention shifts.
What is endogenous orienting?
Voluntary, goal-driven attention shifts.
What is object-based attention?
Attention can select entire objects, not just spatial locations.
What is visual search?
Finding a target among distractors.
What is pop-out search?
Parallel search where target differs by a single feature.
What is conjunctive search?
Serial search requiring attention to bind features.
What are illusory conjunctions?
Errors where features are incorrectly combined when attention is limited.
What is inattentional blindness?
Failure to notice unexpected stimuli when attention is focused elsewhere.
What is the attentional blink?
Temporary inability to detect a second target shortly after detecting the first.
What is attention as a resource?
Attention is a limited pool of mental energy.
What is divided attention?
Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
What is the central processing bottleneck?
Limits occur during response selection in dual-task performance.
What is the psychological refractory period (PRP)?
Delayed response to a second task when tasks are close in time.
What is sustained attention?
Maintaining focus over extended periods.
What is vigilance decrement?
Decline in performance over time during sustained attention tasks.
