Early vs Late Selection Models of Attention
This essays aims are to compare and contrast early VS late selection models of attention and attentional control. Specifically, its focus will be on some of the theories and research put forward within this field of study, that using computer analogy terms have provided models to explain attention. Following a chronological structure a review of some of the most influential theories of selective attention will be compared those of Broadbent (1958) Treisman (1964) and Deutsh & Deutsh (1970). It will be considered how well these models describe the mental processes involved in auditory attention and aid our understandings of how we can selectively attend to information within our environments.
Before we begin to examine some of the theories explaining attention it would be appropriate to offer a definition what it refers to provided by William James (1890).
In his view “everyone knows what attention is, it is the taking possession by the mind in clear and vivid form of one out of what seem several stimulus objects or trains of thought”. Driver, J (2001)
It would seem then attention is a process of selection of which cognitive processing resources are allocated, and a mental resource which allows us to optimize our processing of certain information. This signifies the brains capabilities of selective attention and a relationship with conscious cognitive processing occurring of which we have control over.
For many Psychologists there interests have been to understand the mechanisms within the brain that enable external information from our environment to be registered and attended to while other information is rejected. Most of the early research attempting to explain the inputs and processes involved in auditory attention, assumed that the brain was similar to a computer processor, and that the information humans can attend to is limited. Auditory attention is often viewed as the selection between inputs, therefore we are not able to handle all the inputs
Before we begin to examine some of the theories explaining attention it would be appropriate to offer a definition what it refers to provided by William James (1890).
In his view “everyone knows what attention is, it is the taking possession by the mind in clear and vivid form of one out of what seem several stimulus objects or trains of thought”. Driver, J (2001)
It would seem then attention is a process of selection of which cognitive processing resources are allocated, and a mental resource which allows us to optimize our processing of certain information. This signifies the brains capabilities of selective attention and a relationship with conscious cognitive processing occurring of which we have control over.
For many Psychologists there interests have been to understand the mechanisms within the brain that enable external information from our environment to be registered and attended to while other information is rejected. Most of the early research attempting to explain the inputs and processes involved in auditory attention, assumed that the brain was similar to a computer processor, and that the information humans can attend to is limited. Auditory attention is often viewed as the selection between inputs, therefore we are not able to handle all the inputs
References: Driver, J (2001) “A selective review of selective attention research from the past century. British journal of psychology (2001). Naish, p, (2010) “Attention” in (eds) Cognitive Psychology, The open University. Gross, R (2007) “Attention and performance” in Science of mind and behaviour 4th (eds) Hodder & Stoughton.