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