Sensory Memory and Filtering Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of the sensory filter in attention processing?

To analyze the relevance of all incoming stimuli

To completely block out attended stimuli

To enhance all information processed

To filter out information that lacks meaning (correct)

According to Broadbent’s model, what type of selection does the sensory filter perform?

Random selection without any processing

Early selection based on physical cues (correct)

Late selection based on meaning

Selective attention based on past experiences

In Broadbent’s filter model, what happens to unattended stimuli?

Unattended stimuli are entirely ignored without exception

Some unattended stimuli may pass the filter if they are meaningful (correct)

Unattended stimuli can influence subsequent attention

All unattended stimuli are fully processed

What role do physical cues play in attention according to the model discussed?

They influence the selection of stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the bottleneck in the initial stages of attention according to Broadbent’s model?

Only certain information is processed while the rest is discarded Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the initial detection of a triangle in the preattentive stage according to feature integration theory?

It is recognized by its individual features. Signup and view all the answers

During the focused attention stage, what contributes to binding stimuli together?

Conscious effort directed towards the features. Signup and view all the answers

What leads to illusory conjunctions according to feature integration theory?

Disruptions in feature binding. Signup and view all the answers

In a visual search where the target is a red O, what effect do shared features with distractors have?

They confuse the identification, making it slower. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of conducting a serial search during the focused attention stage?

Binding the features of each item sequentially. Signup and view all the answers

What does Moray's research suggest about certain messages in a dichotic listening task?

They can be detected even if unattended. Signup and view all the answers

According to Treisman's Attenuation model, what happens to unattended messages?

They become attenuated and can still be processed for meaning. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the attentuator play in Treisman's model?

It weakens unwanted messages but allows them to be processed. Signup and view all the answers

In a dichotic listening task, how often were participants able to detect their name when it was embedded in an unattended message?

Approximately 33%. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the term 'dictionary unit' in the context of Treisman's model?

A system that recognizes and identifies important messages. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to distractors when perceptual load is high?

They do not get processed at all. Signup and view all the answers

In which situation would a person be more likely to notice a distraction?

When answering a simple, straightforward question. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the early selection mechanism in load theory?

To prevent distractions from entering awareness. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios illustrates low perceptual load?

Choosing between two similar colors. Signup and view all the answers

When engaging in a high load task, what is typically true about cognitive resources?

Most resources are devoted to the main task. Signup and view all the answers

In a late selection scenario, how are distractors generally processed?

They compete with the main task for cognitive resources. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the complexity of a task have on perceptual load?

Higher complexity increases perceptual load. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome when perceptual load is low?

There is a higher chance of processing distractions. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does top-down or goal-oriented attention have on bottom-up distractions?

It can override bottom-up distractions. Signup and view all the answers

In the training sessions, what role did the reward amount play in influencing participants' attention?

Low rewards made distractors easier to ignore. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main finding regarding participant responses to target items based on reward history?

Target item responses were consistent regardless of rewards. Signup and view all the answers

What influence did the item history of distractors have during the test session?

Responses to distractors were strongly influenced by their reward history. Signup and view all the answers

How did the association of ignoring a stimulus with reward affect responses during the test?

Ignoring stimuli was linked to greater focus when associated with reward. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensory Processing

Sensory information is initially filtered before reaching short-term memory.
Filtered-out information lacks meaning and is often from environmental stimuli.
Attended information passes through the filter and is processed meaningfully.

Attention Models

Broadbent's Model focuses on early selection in information processing; attention acts as a bottleneck.
Query about whether all unattended stimuli are completely blocked arises from Broadbent's model.
Moray (1959) found that important messages can penetrate the filter, evidenced by a dichotic listening task where ~33% detected their name.

Treisman's Attenuation Model

Attended messages fully pass through, while unattended messages are attenuated, not completely blocked.
Attenuated messages can still be processed for meaning, facilitated by an "Attenuator" and "Dictionary Unit."

Load Theory

Processing capacity is limited; perceptual load dictates attention allocation.
High perceptual load tasks allow no resources for distractions, leading to early selection.
Low perceptual load tasks have available resources to process distractions, allowing for late selection.

Feature Integration Theory (FIT)

Proposes that objects are processed in stages: preattentive (independent features) and focused attention (binding features).
In the preattentive stage, features are identified separately; in focused attention, they are combined consciously.
Illusory conjunctions can occur when attention is divided, causing binding errors.

Visual Search in FIT

Targets with shared features with distractors lead to longer search times due to conjunction of features.
Background distractors that share only one feature with the target allow for faster searches.
Serial searches entail item-by-item feature binding before determining target identity.

Attention & Learning (Della Libera & Chelazzi, 2009)

Experiment involved training with target figures and associated rewards to assess attention and learning.
Distractor responses correlated with prior reward associations; distractors associated with low rewards were harder to ignore.
Stimuli with reward history acted as distractions, indicating long-lasting effects on attention even after an interval without rewards.

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Description

Test your knowledge on sensory memory and the filtering process involved in short-term memory retention. This quiz explores how sensory information is processed and filtered for further use. Dive deep into the mechanics of memory functioning!