Mechanisms of Attention: Monitoring and Noticing Information
CH 3 Mechanisms of Attention: Monitoring and Noticing Information I. Attention: What Is It?
A. Basic Characteristics
1-Limited capacity
− Visual attention limits are described with a spotlight metaphor
− Auditory attention limits are described with gateway metaphor
2- Flexibility
− Easily shift attention based on situational demands
3- Voluntary control
− We can control how we direct our attention
B. Pre-Attentive vs. Post-Attentive Processing
Pre-attentive processing- Happens before the focus of attention is brought to a stimulus. It occurs quickly (without thinking).
Post-attentive processing- occurs after the focus of attention has been brought to a stimulus. It is slow and effortful.
Example:
Enumeration: The ability to accurately determine the number of presented items
Subitizing: The quick and effortless (i.e., pre-attentive) enumeration of a small number of objects (0-4)
Above 4 involves “counting,” which is a slow and effortful (i.e., post-attentive) enumeration process
Attentional involvement is gauged by noting how reaction time (RT) varies with the number of items in a visual display.
◘ Pre-attentive process
← RT does not increase as the number of items increases
◘ Post-attentive process
← RT increases as the number of items increases
II. Visual Attention
A. Types of Visual Attention
-Goal-driven attention
-Stimulus-driven attention
Goal-driven attention: Focusing attention based on previous knowledge, goals, or expectations (i.e., top-down processing).
Space-Based Attention: Focusing attention on a specific spatial location (like shining a spotlight).
● Areas within central attentional focus receive the most thorough processing
● Areas in the periphery receive more diffuse processing
Feature Integration vs. Guided Search
● Problems with two-stage assumption of
A. Basic Characteristics
1-Limited capacity
− Visual attention limits are described with a spotlight metaphor
− Auditory attention limits are described with gateway metaphor
2- Flexibility
− Easily shift attention based on situational demands
3- Voluntary control
− We can control how we direct our attention
B. Pre-Attentive vs. Post-Attentive Processing
Pre-attentive processing- Happens before the focus of attention is brought to a stimulus. It occurs quickly (without thinking).
Post-attentive processing- occurs after the focus of attention has been brought to a stimulus. It is slow and effortful.
Example:
Enumeration: The ability to accurately determine the number of presented items
Subitizing: The quick and effortless (i.e., pre-attentive) enumeration of a small number of objects (0-4)
Above 4 involves “counting,” which is a slow and effortful (i.e., post-attentive) enumeration process
Attentional involvement is gauged by noting how reaction time (RT) varies with the number of items in a visual display.
◘ Pre-attentive process
← RT does not increase as the number of items increases
◘ Post-attentive process
← RT increases as the number of items increases
II. Visual Attention
A. Types of Visual Attention
-Goal-driven attention
-Stimulus-driven attention
Goal-driven attention: Focusing attention based on previous knowledge, goals, or expectations (i.e., top-down processing).
Space-Based Attention: Focusing attention on a specific spatial location (like shining a spotlight).
● Areas within central attentional focus receive the most thorough processing
● Areas in the periphery receive more diffuse processing
Feature Integration vs. Guided Search
● Problems with two-stage assumption of