Question

Nicole is working hard in the library to finish her paper before the deadline. There is a small group of students close by who are talking loudly. What attentional process is Nicole using when she deemphasizes the auditory stimulus from the students talking and concentrates attention on the paper she is writing ?

• A. Divided attention
• B. Exogenous attention
• C. Selective attention
• D. Vigilance attention

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Selective attention

• Selective attention describes the ability to sustain attention during distraction.
• Divided attention occurs when 2 or more tasks must be completed simultaneously. The limited capacity of attention causes a bottleneck where only so much information can be processed.
• Exogenous attention is driven by bottom-up or external events, i.e. pop-out.
• Vigilance attention and signal detection are processes that attempt to detect a signal or target of interest. This allows responses to be primed and quick actions undertaken in response to the signal or target of interest, i.e. a pothole in the road is detected and avoidance actions are undertaken.