Cognitive Processes Lesson 2: Attention

Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of attention according to Treisman's Feature Integration Theory?

To encode visual features independently

To bind visual features into coherent objects (correct)

To process information in parallel

To enhance the speed of preattentive processing

What does change blindness suggest about human perception?

Attention has no impact on visual encoding

Perception can be influenced by what is attended to (correct)

Perception is always accurate and complete

Visual memory is infallible and can store all details

What characteristic of feature processing is described as occurring quickly and in parallel?

Preattentive processing (correct)

Serial processing

Cognitive distraction

Attentional binding

In the context of attention, what does the term 'attention spotlight' refer to?

The focus of mental effort on a single task Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a consequence of high media multitasking according to cognitive control studies?

Reduced cognitive flexibility in task switching Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of cognitive processes does change blindness primarily relate to?

The amount of information that can be encoded Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the dichotic listening task in cognitive psychology?

To assess selective attention through repetition of one message Signup and view all the answers

In Treisman's experimental paradigm, what is indicated by the slash mark between the two messages?

The point where the messages switch ears Signup and view all the answers

Which type of processing is involved in parallel pre-attentive processes?

Unconscious and automatic detection of sensory information Signup and view all the answers

How does serial attention differ from parallel processing?

It requires focusing on one stimulus at a time. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the role of attention in cognitive processes?

Attention plays a critical role in filtering relevant information from distractions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the implications of the depicted cognitive processes in attention?

They demonstrate the limitations of human attention in multitasking environments. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Attention in Cognitive Processes

Cognitive processes include attention, a key focus in psychology.
Dichotic listening task: Involves presenting two different auditory messages simultaneously, requiring participants to "shadow" one message.
Treisman’s experimental paradigm (1960) demonstrates how attention can switch between messages presented to different ears.

Feature Integration Theory

Proposed by Anne Treisman (1986), this theory explains visual processing.
Features are processed independently in a pre-attentive, quick, and parallel manner.
Attention, referred to as the "attention spotlight," plays a critical role in binding these features together, which is a slow and serial process.

Change Blindness

Change blindness highlights the limitations of attention and perception, suggesting the mind creates a percept of completeness.
Factors contributing to change blindness include the amount of information encoded and the role of attention in perceiving changes.

Research on Multitasking

Cognitive control is affected in media multitaskers, as indicated in the study by Ophir, Nass, & Wagner (2009).
Media multitasking may impact attention allocation and cognitive processing efficiency.

Description

This quiz focuses on the second lesson of Cognitive Processes, specifically targeting the concept of attention. It references key theories and tasks, such as dichotic listening, to illustrate the complexities of cognitive attention demonstrated in Weiten (2012) and Galotti (2003). Test your understanding of these important cognitive processes.