Attention

pertaining to perceptual load and early or late selective attention theories. Better understanding whether or not selective attention can be sustained during a perceptual task, even when there is a distractor, provides valuable insight into how humans function on a day-to-day basis. Prior research showed that when a person was doing a task that involved high perceptual effort they were better able to focus, thus validating early selective attention (Lavie, 2005). Moreover, tasks that were viewed…

Background: Selective and exaggerated attention towards threat, termed attention bias (AB), has been identified as a core behavioral and neurocognitive mechanism in anxiety (Bar-Haim et al., 2010). AB is commonly quantified through the dot probe (DP) paradigm in which neutral and threatening faces compete for attention (Mathews & MacLeod, 2002). Another commonly-used measure of AB is the Posner spatial cueing paradigm in which neutral and threatening words serve as valid and invalid cues (Posner…

in Chapter 3 of the text, the four stages of the perceptual process are attention and selection, organization, interpretation, and retrieval. In the first stage of the perceptual process, attention and selection, individuals resolve to selective screening in order to filter a high volume of information. Selective screening is two-fold: one is channeled through controlled screening in which an individual chooses to pay attention to certain information and ignore the rest; and the second screening…

travelling? Self-regulation can be learned and reinforced over time with practice (Bauer & Baumeister, 2011). Cognitive skills are a key aspect of self-regulation exemplified in goal setting, strategic planning, self-evaluation, causal attributions, and attention. Affective skills are another pivotal aspect of self-regulation with the understanding that effective emotional regulation will put someone in a better position to control…

How well is our brain able to focus and not let distractors get in the way? Through results of flanker tasks, it seems that our brain is not that good with ignoring distractors. This leads to a debate on whether top down processes are used in both targets and interfering distractors in flanker tasks or if bottom up processes are used. In a research article, titled “Top-Down Processes Override Bottom-up Interference in the Flanker Task” by Rotem Avital-Cohen and Yehoshua Tsal, it is clear that…

aloof, and only paid attention when there was music. When he was very little, he went around finding simulation-ticking, flashing lights, etc- but when I sang a scale, it got his attention, his mother recalled. Mike would sit up immediately, cock his head, and be fully interested. Even at these times, he responded to the music, rather than than the people singing or playing the music” (71). This showed that Mike thrives in music and it makes him happy. It also made him pay attention and be full…

2001).The conclusion to this experiment said that there was a slower reaction time to traffic signals while on their phone. Their data concluded that it was consistent with an attention biased interpretation in which the disruptive effects of cell phone conversations on driving are due primarily to the diversion of attention from, driving to the phone conversation…

When Damian Lillard(NBA player for Portland Trail Blazers) hit the game-winning three to send the Blazers to the second round of the tournament, not only did it excite the players, but the fans erupted. Fans in the stadium and all around the country watching the game were ecstatic as their team won the game. But what is stopping these fans from simply walking away from cheering on the Blazers, painting their faces red, and jumping up and down? Why are arenas of horrible NBA teams still filled up…

life (Roland et al., 1986); for this reason, this paper will focus on how CVI manifests in children rather than adults. Aspects of vision that may be impaired or affected in children with CVI include acuity, color, movement, visual field, visual attention span, and other various aspects of…

Mindfulness requires one to pay attention in a particular way, deliberately and non-judgmentally, to the present moment. Mindfulness has been applied to many different conditions such as, stress reduction, chronic pain, cancer, parenting, childbirth and anxiety, etc. While this technique is useful for many conditions the primary intention of applying mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to treatment is to teach clients mindfulness-based approaches for depression. Depression is considered to be a…