Cognitive Ch.3 Vocab - Attention and Performance

selective attention

a situation in which individuals try to attend to only one source of information while ignoring other stimuli (also known as focused attention)

Divided attention

a situation in which two tasks are performed at the same time (also known as multitasking)

Shadowing

repeating word for word one auditory message as it is presented while a second auditory message is also presented

covert attention

attention to an object in the absence of an eye movement towards it

split attention

allocation of attention to two (or more) non-adjacent regions of visual space

Neglect

A disorder of visual attention in which stimuli (or parts of stimuli) presented to the side opposite the brain damage are not detected; the condition resembles extinction but is more severe.

cross-modal attention

the coordination of attention across two or more modalities (e.g., vision and audition)

ventriloquist illusion

the mistaken perception that sounds are coming from their apparent visual source, as in ventriloquism

rubber hand illusion

the misperception that a rubber hand is one's own; it occurs when the visible rubber hand is touched at the same time as the individual's own hidden hand

body swap illusion

the mistaken perception that part or all of someone else's body is one's own; it occurs when, for example, shaking hands with someone else while seeing what is happening from the viewpoint of the other person

body size effect

an extension of the body swap illusion in which the size of the body mistakenly perceived to be one's own influences the perceived size of objects in the environment

illusory conjunction

mistakenly combining features from two different stimuli to perceive an object that isn't present

Extinction

a disorder of visual attention in which a stimulus presented to the side opposite the brain damage is not detected when another stimulus is presented at the same time to the same side as the brain damage

ADHD

a developmental disorder characterized by attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity

Multitasking

performing two or more tasks during the same time.

Controlled Processes

processes of limited capacity that require attention and can be used flexibly in changing conditions; serial processing is involved

Automatic processes

processes that have no capacity limitations, don't require attention, and are very hard to modify once learned; involve parallel processing and usually require extensive practice to acquire

Psychological refractory period (PRP) effect

the slowing of the response to the second of two stimuli when they are presented close together in time

Priming

Facilitated processing of (and response to) a target stimulus because the amse or related stimulus was presented before

Free Will

The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.

Masking

suppression of the processing of a stimulus by presenting a seconf stimulus very soon afterwards