Theories of attention and different types

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Questions and Answers

According to the filter theory of attention proposed by Broadbent, how does information initially enter the cognitive system?

Information is selectively filtered based on relevance and attention.

Information is directly sent to long-term memory.

All information is processed simultaneously without any filtering. (correct)

Only top-down information is initially processed.

In the filter theory of attention, what is the role of the selective filter?

It filters out top-down information.

It enhances sensory processing.

It blocks out unattended stimuli and allows relevant top-down information to pass through. (correct)

It completely ignores all sensory input.

According to the filter theory, what kind of filter is applied to the unattended channel?

Selective filter

All-or-nothing filter (correct)

Partial filter

Top-down filter

Which statement best characterizes the filter theory of attention?

b. All stimuli receive initial sensory processing, but unattended channel content is completely unavailable. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the attended channel according to the filter theory?

c. It is attended to and undergoes higher-level processing, including the extraction of meaning. Signup and view all the answers

What limitation of the filter theory is mentioned in the provided information regarding Triesman's Dichotic listening findings?

c. It is unclear how higher-order meaning can be extracted from the supposedly filtered-out unattended channel. Signup and view all the answers

How does the attenuator model differ from the Broadbent model of attention?

The attenuator model allows some information from the unattended channel to pass through based on certain threshold of activation, whereas the Broadbent model blocks the unattended channel entirely. Signup and view all the answers

In the attenuator model, what does 'attenuate' mean in the context of the filter?

To reduce the force, effect, or value of the sensory input. Signup and view all the answers

According to the attenuator model, what is the primary function of the filter?

To pass on information from the unattended channel that meets a certain threshold. Signup and view all the answers

What criteria are considered by the attenuating filter in the attenuator model to determine which information from the unattended channel gets passed along?

Context, priming, and importance of the information. Signup and view all the answers

According to the attenuator model, what is the result if the unattended channel meets the criteria of the attenuating filter?

Some of the message from the unattended channel is passed along for further processing. Signup and view all the answers

According to the attenuator model, what does the filter allow in a crowded and noisy environment?

It allows specific, personally relevant information to gain attention. Signup and view all the answers

What does "top-down" mean in the context of attention control?

It denotes that attention is voluntarily directed by internal goals and intentions. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes top-down attention?

It is deliberate, goal-oriented, and effortful. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of these best describes bottom-up attention control?

It is reflexive, automatic, and effortless. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of bottom-up attention control in terms of awareness?

It is unaware. Signup and view all the answers

When thinking of attention control in the context of the 'Cocktail Party Effect,' what type of attention control is primarily at play?

Involuntary (bottom-up) attention control. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the primary characteristic of a visual search task using top-down control?

Effortful visual search is required. Signup and view all the answers

How does a visual search task using bottom-up control differ from a top-down controlled search?

The target 'pops out' in a bottom-up controlled search but not in a top-down controlled search. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to your attention when you're searching for a specific target using bottom-up control?

Your attention is attracted to the target without your conscious choice. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'contingent capture' in the context of bottom-up attentional control?

The unintentional shift of attention to a distractor that is not salient or relevant to a task. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the reaction time cost associated with contingent capture?

A decrease in reaction time in identifying a probe. Signup and view all the answers

How do real-world examples of contingent capture illustrate the concept of bottom-up processing?

They demonstrate that stimulus features drive attention, and individuals have limited control over where their attention is drawn. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of real-world contingent capture based on the information provided?

None of the above; all are examples of contingent capture. Signup and view all the answers

According to Pinto et al. (2013), what did they find regarding the relationship between top-down and bottom-up attention tasks?

There is no correlation between performance in bottom-up and top-down tasks, suggesting independent attentional systems. Signup and view all the answers

What does the existence of separate attention control networks suggest in terms of neurophysiological evidence?

Different brain regions (frontal and parietal cortex) are involved in controlling bottom-up and top-down attention. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes visual field neglect?

Visual field neglect is a condition where lesions or brain injuries to the parietal lobe lead to deficits in specific visual fields, suggesting separate systems for attention. Signup and view all the answers

What does the example of ADHD reveal about the role of neural activity in attention control?

ADHD is associated with deficits in neural activity within specific circuits, affecting selective attention and top-down control. Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, where does bottom-up target selection first occur within the parieto-frontal network?

Bottom-up target selection occurs in lateral intraparietal area in the parietal cortex. Signup and view all the answers

Which region of the brain is identified as the first site for top-down processing within the parieto-frontal network?

b. The frontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What does the observation of differences in bottom-up and top-down processes within the parieto-frontal network indicate?

c. Bottom-up and top-down processes involve distinct neural pathways, suggesting separate attention control mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the value-driven attentional capture study conducted by Anderson et al. (2012; 2013)?

d. Studying how value, even in an irrelevant context, affects attention during a task Signup and view all the answers

During the training phase of the study by Anderson et al., participants were required to

Look for a horizontal line segment within specific shapes. Signup and view all the answers

How was value (importance) assigned to the targets in the training phase of the study by Anderson et al.?

High-value targets were in red circles, and low-value targets were in green circles. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of the 2nd test phase in the study by Anderson et al.?

To have participants identify a new shape among various colored distractors. Signup and view all the answers

According to the value-driven attentional capture study by Anderson et al., what were the key findings in the test phase?

High-value distractors captured attention, causing participants to become slower and make more errors - a contingent capture was created. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary finding of the study by Anderson et al. (2011; 2012) regarding value-driven attentional capture and its duration?

Stimuli associated with reward in training continued to capture attention over an extended period, even though they were irrelevant and weren't associated with a reward. Signup and view all the answers

According to the information given, what is the relationship between the direction of gaze and the direction of attention in visual perception?

The direction of gaze typically aligns with the direction of attention. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes what participants needed to do when they encountered a word from the list of memorized words in the Bowden's sentence reading experiment?

Stop the true/false task and press the spacebar. Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence reading experiment by Bowden et al. (2017), when were participants required to switch their attention and press the spacebar?

When they saw the trial number on the screen. Signup and view all the answers

According to eye-tracking studies, what do the results suggest about the focus of attention in visual perception?

The focus of attention receives processing advantages. Signup and view all the answers

According to the findings of the experiment, what happened to the number of fixations on the trial number as participants approached trial numbers where the special words could appear?

The number of fixations gradually increased and dissipated after the number of trials was outside of the range Signup and view all the answers

According to Posner et al. (1980), what is a key characteristic of the attention spotlight model of attention?

Attention moves around to selectively attend to different parts of the visual world. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the attention spotlight model, what happens to stimuli in the spotlight?

Stimuli within the spotlight receive greater attention and processing. Signup and view all the answers

According to the study by Muler et al. (2003), what is the main concept introduced with regards to attention?

The concept of a 'zoom lens' for attention Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the 'zoom lens' according to Muler et al. (2003)?

Allows attention to be narrowly or widely focused Signup and view all the answers

How did participants in the study by Muler et al. (2003) adjust the size of their attentional window based on the cue provided?

By varying their attentional window based on the cue size Signup and view all the answers

According to the findings of Muler et al. (2003), what advantage is associated with having a very small attentional window?

Faster response times and fewer errors Signup and view all the answers

How does the study's use of fMRI support the concept of a finite amount of attentional resources?

It reveals greater neural activation when attentional window size increases, supporting the concept of a finite amount of attentional resources. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Filter Theory of Attention

Information initially enters the cognitive system through multiple channels, with all information being processed in parallel.
The selective filter determines which channel to attend to, and only the attended channel is further processed.
The unattended channel has a filter applied to it, which attenuates the signal, but does not eliminate it.

Attenuator Model

The attenuator model differs from the Broadbent model in that the filter attenuates the unattended channel, rather than blocking it completely.
The filter attenuates the signal, reducing its strength, but not eliminating it.
The primary function of the filter is to reduce the strength of the unattended channel.
The filter considers the physical characteristics of the stimuli to determine which information from the unattended channel gets passed along.
If the unattended channel meets the criteria, it is passed along to further processing.

Top-Down and Bottom-Up Attention

Top-down attention is controlled by goals, expectations, and prior knowledge.
Top-down attention is characterized by attention being guided by internal goals and expectations.
Bottom-up attention is driven by salient stimuli in the environment.
Bottom-up attention control is characterized by awareness of stimuli.
In the 'Cocktail Party Effect', top-down attention control is primarily at play.

Visual Search Tasks

In a top-down controlled search, the searcher knows what they are looking for.
In a bottom-up controlled search, the target is unknown.
When searching for a specific target using bottom-up control, attention is drawn to salient stimuli.
Contingent capture occurs when attention is drawn to a salient stimulus, even if it's not the target.

Real-World Examples

Contingent capture is illustrated by real-world examples such as billboards and advertisements.

Neurophysiological Evidence

Separate attention control networks suggest that top-down and bottom-up attention have distinct neural mechanisms.
Visual field neglect is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to attend to one side of the visual field.
ADHD reveals that neural activity plays a crucial role in attention control.

Parito-Frontal Network

Bottom-up target selection first occurs within the parieto-frontal network.
Top-down processing occurs in the frontal cortex.

Value-Driven Attentional Capture

The primary focus of the study by Anderson et al. was to investigate value-driven attentional capture.
During the training phase, participants were required to learn the value of different targets.
The primary objective of the 2nd test phase was to test attentional capture.
The key finding was that attentional capture was driven by learned value.

Eye Tracking Studies

The direction of gaze and attention are closely linked in visual perception.
In the sentence reading experiment by Bowden et al., participants had to switch their attention and press the spacebar when they encountered a memorized word.

Attention Spotlight Model

The attention spotlight model suggests that attention is focused on a specific area, with stimuli in the spotlight receiving priority processing.

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Description

This quiz tests your knowledge of the filter theory of attention proposed by Broadbent. Learn how information initially enters the cognitive system and select the correct answer from multiple choices.