Psychology Chapter on Attention

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of unilateral spatial neglect?

  • Inability to perceive or act on the left side of space (correct)
  • Diminished peripheral vision in both hemispheres
  • Enhanced perception on the left side following a right hemisphere stroke
  • Complete memory loss for objects on the right side

Which of the following best describes 'top down attention'?

  • Goal-driven control of attention (correct)
  • Attention controlled by external stimuli
  • Attention that is solely based on sensory input
  • Attention that is reflexive and automatic

In the study by Bisiach and Luzzatti, participants demonstrated selective attention. What was the method used to reveal their biases?

  • Instructing them to focus on their emotional response
  • Asking them to analyze visual patterns from both sides
  • Imagining a location and describing the visible buildings (correct)
  • Having them copy drawings with an emphasis on symmetry

What do the sensory and motor aspects of unilateral spatial neglect indicate?

<p>Sensory stimuli on the affected side are often ignored (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of unilateral spatial neglect reflects impairments at the level of central representations?

<p>Representational neglect (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of attentional focus, what is crucial to the process of focalization according to William James?

<p>Concentration on a single train of thought (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Automatic orienting response towards stimuli is primarily driven by which of the following?

<p>Saliency of external stimuli (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about attention is most accurate regarding individuals with unilateral spatial neglect?

<p>Attention is significantly impaired on the left side. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the early model of attention propose regarding the processing of irrelevant information?

<p>Irrelevant information is filtered out before perceptual analysis. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the dichotic listening task, what does it indicate about the processing of unattended stimuli?

<p>Unattended stimuli can still be recalled under specific questioning. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is associated with EEG in studying attention modulation?

<p>EEG cannot accurately determine the origin of the signal. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does attention play in the modulation of neuronal processing during task performance?

<p>Attention influences both early and late stages of sensory processing. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of late models of attention, when does the bottleneck filter irrelevant information?

<p>After the categorization and semantic analysis of information. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which cortical areas are implicated in attention as per the conclusions drawn?

<p>Frontal eye fields and occipital cortex. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of neural activity does MEG measure in relation to attention?

<p>Magnetic fields caused by electrical neural activity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the influence of attention on sensory inputs?

<p>Attention can modify how sensory inputs are stored and processed semantically. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding regarding the effect of TMS on phosphenes?

<p>TMS to the cued side increased occurrences of phosphenes at lower stimulation levels. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does selective attention enable individuals to do when faced with competing stimuli?

<p>Focus effectively on one stimulus while disregarding others. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is associated with extinction in patients with damage to the right parietal cortex?

<p>They prioritize stimuli in the ipsilateral hemifield. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of visual attention does the Posner cueing task specifically evaluate?

<p>The impact of validaity or invalidity of cues on target location. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of distribution of function in the brain suggest?

<p>Brain functions are distributed across interconnected networks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What evidence suggests that brain damage may not isolate deficiencies to one specific area?

<p>Damage can affect both cortical and subcortical connections. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do the neurons in the posterior parietal cortex play during attentional control?

<p>They respond during both covert and overt attentional tasks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the cocktail party effect exemplify selective auditory attention?

<p>It allows individuals to single out one voice from multiple conversations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which network is identified as being involved in covert shifts of attention?

<p>Dorsal Attention Network (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Mesulam propose regarding the nature of neglect as a syndrome?

<p>Neglect is a result of dysfunction in a large-scale attention network. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant weakness of fMRI studies in relating brain damage to cognitive function?

<p>Patients' lesions may vary significantly, complicating results. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding attentional control is false?

<p>Sensory processing is seamless due to the brain's capacity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of attentional networks, what role do the subcortical regions play?

<p>They are involved in the coordination of attention across different modalities. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What experimental method is used to investigate overt and covert attentional control?

<p>Single unit recording in non-human primates. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key function of the dorsal attention network?

<p>Controlling voluntary eye movements during visual tasks. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critical aspect does the limitation of perceptual capacity imply for sensory processing?

<p>Information processing can be influenced by distractions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Attention

The process of focusing mental effort on a specific object, thought, or action. It involves concentrating on one thing while ignoring others.

Bottom-up Attention

Attention is directed by external stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights.

Top-down Attention

Attention is guided by internal goals, intentions, or expectations.

Unilateral Spatial Neglect

A neurological disorder characterized by the inability to attend to, perceive, or respond to stimuli on one side of the body or space. It's often caused by damage to the right hemisphere of the brain.

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Object-based Neglect

The tendency for individuals with spatial neglect to draw only the right half of a figure, suggesting that their visual attention is confined to one side.

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Sensory Neglect

In the context of spatial neglect, patients neglect stimuli on one side of the world.

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Motor Neglect

In cases of spatial neglect, patients avoid actions towards the neglected side, even if they can see it.

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Representational Neglect

A theory proposing that spatial neglect is not a result of sensory or motor deficits but rather a disruption in the internal mental representations of space.

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Early Selection Model

A theory suggesting that irrelevant information is filtered out before complete perceptual analysis, meaning we only process information we attend to.

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Late Selection Model

A theory stating that irrelevant information is filtered out after semantic information has been extracted, even if we don't consciously process it.

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Electroencephalography (EEG)

A neuroimaging technique using electrodes on the scalp to measure brain activity, providing excellent temporal resolution but limited spatial resolution.

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Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A neuroimaging technique measuring magnetic fields associated with electrical activity in the brain, providing excellent temporal resolution and better spatial resolution than EEG.

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Dichotic Listening Task

A task where participants listen to two different recordings played simultaneously, focusing on one while ignoring the other.

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Posterior Parietal Cortex (PPC)

A specific brain structure found in the parietal lobe that plays a role in processing spatial information, attention, and visual awareness.

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Frontal Eye Field (FEF)

A brain area in the frontal lobe involved in planning, eye movements, and controlling voluntary actions.

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Thalamus

This is a subcortical structure that relays information from the sensory organs to the thalamus.

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Selective Attention

A cognitive phenomenon emphasizing the ability to focus on one specific stimulus while neglecting irrelevant ones. It allows us to efficiently process information in our daily lives.

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Occipital Cortex

A key brain region involved in visual processing and perception. It is located in the back of the brain.

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Extinction

Failure to attend to stimuli present in the contralesional hemifield when stimuli also appear in the ipsilateral hemifield.

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Contralesional Side

The visual field on the opposite side of the brain lesion.

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Ipsilesional Side

The visual field on the same side of the brain lesion.

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Neglect Syndrome

A syndrome characterized by a failure to attend to the contralesional hemifield.

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Posner Cueing Task

A task used to study attentional control in which a cue (valid or invalid) predicts the target location.

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Distribution of Function

The idea that function is not localized to one specific area but is distributed across a network of brain regions.

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fMRI

A type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

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Dorsal Attention Network

A set of brain areas responsible for directing and controlling attention, involving structures like the parietal cortex, frontal cortex, and thalamus.

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PPC Neurons

Neurons that respond to both covert and overt attentional control.

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Superior Colliculus

A subcortical structure in the midbrain that plays a role in controlling eye movements.

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Cued Response Task

A type of task used to study attention in monkeys. Involves cues that signal the location of a target.

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Limited Capacity

The idea that the brain has a limited capacity for processing information.

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Selective Auditory Attention

The ability to focus on one source of information in a noisy environment, like a conversation in a crowded room.

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Cocktail Party Effect

A phenomenon where we are able to attend to and process a single voice in a crowded environment. The auditory system filters out irrelevant information.

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Study Notes

William James' Definition of Attention

  • Attention is the "taking possession" of the mind by a specific object or thought, making it clear and vivid, while excluding others that might compete.
  • Key aspects include focusing, concentration, and withdrawing from competing thoughts or stimuli.

Bottom-Up and Top-Down Attention

  • Bottom-up (Stimulus-driven): Attention is automatically drawn to salient stimuli. Pavlov's work on orienting responses illustrates this reflexive mechanism.
  • Top-down (Goal-driven): Attention is directed by conscious goals and intentions.

Unilateral Spatial Neglect

  • A neurological condition where individuals with right hemisphere damage fail to perceive, attend to, imagine, remember, or act upon the left side of their world.
  • Lesions often impact the right parietal lobe, crucial for attentional control.
  • Symptoms can manifest in sensory, motor, motivational, and representational domains.
  • Extinction is a related phenomenon where a patient fails to attend to a contralesional stimulus when the same stimulus is present on the ipsilateral side.
  • Extinction patients might show deficits in shifting attention between conflicting stimuli in different visual fields.
  • Posner's cueing task was used to investigate these behaviors.

Single Source of Control vs. Attention Networks

  • Mesulam argues that neglect is caused by damage to a distributed, large-scale attention network, rather than a single brain region.
  • Multiple parts within this network contribute differently to attention control, all functioning together.
  • The interconnected nature of brain regions is crucial.

Attentional Control Network (ACN) Evidence via Neuroimaging

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies using tasks like Posner's cueing task reveal activity within a specific network.
  • The ACN is a set of brain regions involved in attentional control, including the dorsal attention network.

Attentional Control Network Evidence from Single-Unit Recording

  • Studies like those by Wurtz and Goldberg (1970-2000s) using single-unit recordings in monkeys have revealed different roles of specific brain regions during covert and overt attentional control tasks.
  • Superior colliculus activity is associated with overt attentional control, while posterior parietal cortex activity is connected with both overt and covert control mechanisms.

Summary of the Attentional Network

  • Neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and electrophysiology studies show wide participation in attention control.
  • Regions within the network are interlinked.

Resolution of Neuroscience Methods (Brain Lesion)

  • Brain lesion studies are vital in showing the necessity of a region for a specific function.

Limited Capacity and Bottlenecks in Attention

  • The brain cannot process everything at once – it is limited in perceptual capacity and features a bottleneck in processing.
  • Task-relevant information is prioritized when filtering sensory input.

Cocktail Party Effect and Selective Auditory Attention

  • The cocktail party effect demonstrates our ability to filter out irrelevant background noise.
  • Selective attention is crucial for focusing on relevant auditory stimuli at a crowded environment.

Models of Attention (Early vs. Late Filtering Models)

  • Early selection: Information is filtered before a comprehensive perceptual analysis. (Broadbent, 1958)
  • Late selection: Filtering happens after semantic processing. (Deutsch and Deutsch, 1963)

Neuropsychological Evidence Supporting Early and Late Models

  • Neuropsychological studies have contributed to understanding where in the information processing stream attention acts.

Assessing the Timing and Location of Attentional Modulation

  • EEG and ERPs: Reveal attentional modulation at specific stages of sensory processing but offer limited spatial localization.
  • fMRI: Measures BOLD activity across the brain providing spatial resolution. Studies show attentional modulation in specific visual cortical areas influenced by the attended location.
  • TMS/EEG: Investigate the timing and location of attention's influence, particularly for regions involved in attentional selection.

Conclusion

  • Attention allows a selective focus on one stimulus amidst competing stimuli.
  • The brain's attention network involves multiple interconnected cortical and subcortical regions.
  • Attention influences both early and late stages of information processing.

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