Cognitive psychologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Attention

Attentional Control: Networks, Development, Anxiety, and Selective Attention

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Attentional control is the ability to direct attention toward relevant information and away from distractions. This lesson introduces the concept, its brain networks, and the research methods used to study it.

Attentional control, often called concentration, is an individual's capacity to choose what to attend to and what to ignore. It is also known as endogenous attention or executive attention because it involves internally directed goals and control over attention.

All flashcards

Attentional control
The capacity to select relevant information for attention and ignore distractions.
Attentional shifting
The ability to redirect attention from one focus to another.
Alerting network
Maintains readiness and awareness so a person can respond to incoming information.
Executive control network
Helps detect and resolve conflict between task goals and competing responses.
Attention Network Test (ANT)
A behavioral task that estimates alerting, orienting, and executive-control efficiency.

Quiz questions

  1. What distinguishes voluntary attention from reflexive attention?Answer: Voluntary attention follows goals; reflexive attention is captured by salient stimuli.
  2. In attentional control theory, what does updating do?Answer: Monitors and refreshes information held in working memory.
  3. What do findings about attentional control in very young infants indicate?Answer: Infants show some control, though it is more limited than in older people.
  4. What result was reported for an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course?Answer: Participants showed no significant attentional-control advantage over a control group.
  5. How can visual attention shift toward a location away from where a person is looking?Answer: Attention can shift without requiring the eyes to move.

Based on the Wikipedia article Attentional control, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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