PSYB51H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Milan Cathedral, Ataxia, Trin
Document Summary
Models of attention: we use models to understand what attention really is; because attention cannot always be readily observed. It is good to have models that are tangible, as opposed to just talking about the effects of attention: early vs. late selection - refers to metaphors. The brain performs acts of information processing like e. g. pipelines with water flowing, and attention turns up or shuts down the water. Finally, the last model is a metaphor for attention like eye movements. If your mind is saying to focus on your left ear (one pipeline), and not on the right (another pipeline), the executive function will try to shut down the other pipeline i. e. the right ear. First model proposes that we have some sort of early selection mechanism, we can shut down information and focus on the other side: we have executive control over very early stages of sensory input.
