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Cognition Module navigation.
Module Introduction
Lesson Goals
Information Procesing
Attention
Attentional Resources
Memory
Decision Making
Heuristics
Workload
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Cognition > Attention > Attentional Resources- 1 of 1
 
 


Attentional Resources

Attention filters the stimuli that will be furthered processed and performs the following functions.

  • Selective Attention - Selective attention chooses what is to be processed from the environment, that is, where the flashlight is to be pointed;
  • Focused attention - Focused attention are the efforts necessary to sustain processing of the chosen stimuli, while avoiding other stimuli that are distracting. This can be thought of as keeping the flashlight beam pointed on the chosen object, and;
  • Divided Attention - Divided attention is the ability to process several stimuli from the environment at the same time. This usually only can be performed successfully when different cognitive resources are required for each stimuli.

Attentional resources can be diminished due to fatigue.

Example of trying to get someone's attention when his "flashlight" is focused elsewhere.
 
 

 

 
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