Attention Notes
.docx
School
The University of Sydney**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSYC 2016
Subject
Psychology
Date
Dec 15, 2024
Pages
5
Uploaded by DoctorScience11541
Detailed Notes on Attention: Chapter 1 to Chapter 17Chapter 1: Introduction to Attention1.What is Attention?oThe process of selectively focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.oHelps manage information overloadin the environment.2.Importance of Attention:oFacilitates survival by directing focus to relevant stimuli (e.g., detecting threats or opportunities).oExample: A tiger's roar instantly grabs attention (bottom-up process).Chapter 2: Learning Objectives1.Key Goals:oUnderstand attentional selection mechanisms.oExplain limited capacityand its role in perception.oDescribe phenomena like inattentional blindness, change blindness, and attentional cuing.oLearn about bottlenecksin human information processing and their implications for everyday tasks.Chapter 3: Bottlenecks in Attention1.Definition of Bottleneck:oThe brain processes only a fraction of incoming sensory information due to limited cognitive capacity.2.Types of Bottlenecks:oPerceptual Bottleneck: Only specific visual or auditory signals reach conscious awareness.oMemory Bottleneck: Not all perceived information is encoded into memory.3.Experimental Evidence:
oDuncan’s Study: Judgments about multiple objects (box and line) are less accurate than judgments about a single object.Chapter 4: Overt and Covert Attention1.Overt Attention:oInvolves physical movements (e.g., eye or head movement) to focus ona stimulus.2.Covert Attention:oMental focus shifts without moving sensory organs.oExample: Listening to a conversation while appearing focused on a book.Chapter 5: Top-Down and Bottom-Up Attention1.Top-Down (Endogenous) Attention:oGoal-directed; relies on knowledge and intentions.oExample: Searching for a friend in a crowd.2.Bottom-Up (Exogenous) Attention:oStimulus-driven; triggered by unexpected changes in the environment.oExample: Reacting to a loud sound.3.Interaction of Both Types:oBoth systems work together for efficient attentional control.Chapter 6: Change Blindness1.Definition:oFailure to detect large changes in a scene when the changes occur alongside visual disruptions.2.Causes:oLow-Fidelity Representations: Peripheral vision lacks detail.oAttentional Focus: Changes outside the focus area are often missed.3.Applications:
oUnderstanding eyewitness limitations in legal contexts.Chapter 7: Types of Attentional Selection1.Location-Based:oFocus on a specific spatial area.oExample: Staring at a specific word on a page.2.Feature-Based:oFocus on specific attributes (e.g., color, shape).oExample: Searching for a red car in traffic.3.Object-Based:oAttention directed at entire objects rather than locations or features.Chapter 8: Feature Integration Theory (FIT)1.Anne Treisman’s Theory:oAttention is needed to combine features like color and shape into a coherent perception.2.Stages:oPre-Attentive Stage: Features are processed separately (e.g., color, orientation).oFocused Attention Stage: Attention integrates these features.Chapter 9: Visual Search1.Parallel Search:oAll objects are scanned simultaneously for simple features.oExample: Finding a red dot among green dots.2.Serial Search:oObjects are examined one by one for feature combinations.oExample: Finding a red triangle among red circles and green triangles.Chapter 10: Social Attention
1.Gaze Following:oHumans naturally follow others’ gaze to understand focus points.oExample: Babies and adults rely on gaze direction for social cues.2.Attention in Social Contexts:oSocial norms, emotions, and interactions guide attentional focus.Chapter 11: Inattentional Blindness1.Definition:oFailure to notice unexpected stimuli while focusing on a specific task.oExample: Missing a gorilla in the famous “Invisible Gorilla” experiment.2.Causes:oOverly focused top-down attention.oLimited cognitive capacity.Chapter 12: Attentional Cuing1.Definition:oAttentional shifts triggered by cues in the environment.oExample: Hearing a sound and turning toward it.2.Role of Learning:oExperience influences cue effectiveness (e.g., learned distractors are harder to ignore).Chapter 13: Expectations and Memory1.Expectations:oPast experiences guide attentional focus.oExample: Predicting traffic patterns when driving.2.Role of Memory:oMemory strengthens focus on relevant stimuli while filtering out distractions.
Chapter 14: Attention and Learning1.Distraction Effects:oDivided attention reduces task efficiency.oExample: Studying with background TV reduces retention.2.Attentional Capacity:oMultitasking is limited due to finite cognitive resources.Chapter 15: Attentional Blink1.Definition:oDelay in detecting a second target when presented rapidly after the first.2.Applications:oExplains reduced awareness in fast-changing environments (e.g., video games).Chapter 16: Distractions in Real Life1.Sensory Distractions:oUnexpected noises or visuals divert attention.oExample: Phone notifications reduce driving focus.2.Learned Distractions:oPreviously rewarding stimuli (e.g., social media alerts) are hard to ignore.Chapter 17: Summary of Attention1.Key Takeaways:oAttention is selective and capacity-limited.oMechanisms like bottlenecks, cuing, and memory guide what is processed.oUnderstanding attention improves performance and minimizes distractions.