Psychology of Language and Perception

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Questions and Answers

What is the first stage of the process described in feature integration theory?

Preattentive stage (correct)

Conscious processing stage

Visual search stage

Focused attention stage

In the focused attention stage, how do binding problems manifest?

When stimuli share a single feature

Through illusory conjunctions (correct)

Due to a lack of independent features

By focusing on multiple features at once

How does the presence of distractors affect the time taken to find a target in the visual search stage?

It has no impact on the search time

It slows down the search if distractors share features with the target (correct)

It makes the target pop out immediately

It speeds up the search if distractors have different features

What happens during the focused attention stage when conducting a serial search?

Features are bound for each item before a decision is made Signup and view all the answers

What visual feature representation is most likely to cause participants to not see a triangle?

Independent features that lack closure Signup and view all the answers

Which component of Treisman's Attenuation model allows for the processing of words that have learned significance?

Dictionary Unit Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Load Theory, what does the task of identifying if 'N' is present in a circle of letters assess?

Attentional focus under load Signup and view all the answers

Which threshold is less likely to be attended to according to Treisman's model?

High threshold items Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during late selection processing in the LATE selection model?

Physical and semantic info is processed before attention selection Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the attenuator in Treisman's model?

To weaken information based on task relevance Signup and view all the answers

Which processing levels are involved in the Semantic level of Treisman's model?

Meaning and linguistic forms like syllables and words Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of a 'low threshold' in Treisman's model imply?

Information is more likely to be attended to Signup and view all the answers

In Treisman's model, which type of memory temporarily holds weakened information?

Short-term memory Signup and view all the answers

What happens to response time when both cognitive and perceptual loads are high?

It takes more time to search for the car. Signup and view all the answers

Under which condition are unexpected auditory stimuli more likely to be detected?

Low perceptual load. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies high perceptual load in the driving task?

Finding a red Mercedes among many red cars. Signup and view all the answers

How does high perceptual load affect awareness of unexpected visual stimuli?

It reduces awareness significantly. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does practice have on controlled processes?

It speeds them up and makes them smoother. Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of high cognitive load during the driving task?

Distractor interference can occur even under low perceptual load. Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to inattentional deafness in high perceptual load scenarios?

Insufficient cognitive resources to detect sounds. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of driving tasks and load theory, what describes a condition of low load for a cognitive task?

A simple direction like 'Take the M9'. Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon called when a person fails to perceive an object due to lack of attention?

Inattentional blindness Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Simons and Chabris (1999), what percentage of participants failed to notice the gorilla or umbrella man?

46% Signup and view all the answers

How does high perceptual load impact awareness of critical stimuli during tasks like driving?

Decreases awareness of critical stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates inattentional blindness?

Failing to see a sign because you are focused on the road Signup and view all the answers

What effect does working memory load have on goal-oriented behavior?

Inhibits goal-oriented behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about inattentional blindness despite prior knowledge of it?

Awareness provides no assistance in avoiding it Signup and view all the answers

In the context of driving, what happens to a driver's ability to notice unexpected stimuli if they are under low perceptual load?

They are more likely to notice unexpected stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What role does working memory have while driving in relation to attentional capacity?

Working memory reduces attentional capacity Signup and view all the answers

What type of attention requires effort to select and maintain focus on relevant information?

Top-down selective attention Signup and view all the answers

How does having prior knowledge influence visual search according to feature integration theory?

It helps in identifying objects more easily. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding regarding eye movements when participants encountered distractors during the task in Theeuwes et al. (1998)?

Eye movements were first directed at the distractor then returned to target. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the situation where top-down attention is interrupted by bottom-up attention capture?

Attentional capture Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Theeuwes et al. (1998), when no distractor was present, how did participants direct their eye movements?

Directly toward the target. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of objects result in fewer mistakes when identified compared to random pairings?

Familiar objects Signup and view all the answers

How do participants wrongly perceive the impact of distractors on their eye movements?

They believe distractors had no effect. Signup and view all the answers

What does goal-oriented attention specifically require from participants?

Conscious planning and effort. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Attention Models

Treisman’s Attenuation Model suggests that unattended information is weakened based on its relevance to the task.
Attenuator determines which information to prioritize while allowing relevant signals to be processed.
Dictionary Unit contains words recognized with varying activation thresholds; familiar words (e.g., names) have lower thresholds.
LATE Selection Model posits that both sensory and semantic information are fully processed prior to selection for attention.

Inattentional Blindness

Defined as failing to perceive an object when attention is focused elsewhere.
In a study by Simons & Chabris, 46% of participants didn't notice an unexpected object (gorilla) while focused on counting basketball passes.
Awareness of inattentional blindness doesn't necessarily prevent its occurrence.

Driving and Load Theory

Perceptual Load affects awareness of unexpected stimuli while driving; higher load increases chances of inattentional blindness.
Driving simulator studies indicated that with low perceptual load, participants were more prone to notice critical stimuli (CS) compared to high load conditions.
Cognitive Load Task with directional instructions showed that high cognitive demands can hinder awareness of unexpected distractions.

Controlled Processes vs. Automaticity

Controlled processes require conscious effort, are time-consuming, and resource-intensive; tasks become automatic with practice (e.g., reading).
Feature Integration Theory (FIT) explains visual perception stages:
- Preattentive Stage involves detecting features independently.
- Focused Attention Stage facilitates binding features into coherent perceptions, e.g., combining color and shape.

Illusory Conjunctions

Occur when features from separate objects are mistakenly combined due to divided attention.
Studies indicate providing familiar object pairings reduces errors compared to random pairings.

Goal-Oriented Attention

Top-Down Selective Attention is a deliberate focus based on task demands.
Investigations by Theeuwes et al. (1998) showed that distracting stimuli can interfere with goal-oriented eye movements.
Eye tracking experiments demonstrated that even participants unaware of the distractor's influence reported it affected their targeting.

Overall Implications

Understanding attention models and theories aids in recognizing how selective attention operates under varying cognitive loads, and highlights the limitations of perceptual awareness in real-world tasks.

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Description

This quiz explores the intricacies of language processing and sensory perception. It covers various levels of linguistic understanding, including pitch, loudness, and the semantic meaning of words. Test your knowledge on how attentional mechanisms influence memory and comprehension.