types of attention , overt attention, covert attention , spot light theory

1. Psychology Of AttentionPsychology Of Attention
By Heba EssawyBy Heba Essawy

2. Definition of AttentionDefinition of Attention
*Attention:*Attention: The ability to focus selectively on a selectedThe ability to focus selectively on a selected
stimulus, sustaining that focus and shifting it at will.stimulus, sustaining that focus and shifting it at will.
the ability to concentrate.the ability to concentrate.
*William James in his Principles of Psychology (1890):*William James in his Principles of Psychology (1890):
It is the taking possession by the mind in clear and vividIt is the taking possession by the mind in clear and vivid
form, of one out of what seem several simultaneouslyform, of one out of what seem several simultaneously
possible objects or trains of thought...possible objects or trains of thought...
*It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal*It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal
effectively with others, and is a condition which has aeffectively with others, and is a condition which has a
real opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrainedreal opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrained
state."state."

3. Attention spanAttention span
 The amount of time a person can concentrateThe amount of time a person can concentrate
on a single activityon a single activity
 The ability to focus one's mental or other effortsThe ability to focus one's mental or other efforts
on an object is generally considered to be ofon an object is generally considered to be of
prime importance to the achievement of goals.prime importance to the achievement of goals.
 People usually have a longer attention spanPeople usually have a longer attention span
when they are doing something that they enjoy.when they are doing something that they enjoy.

4. Length of the spanLength of the span
 Attention span varies with age, with olderAttention span varies with age, with older
children capable of longer periods ofchildren capable of longer periods of
attention than younger childrenattention than younger children
Attention span range from 3 to 5 minutesAttention span range from 3 to 5 minutes
per year of age in young children, to aper year of age in young children, to a
maximum of around 20 minutes in adultsmaximum of around 20 minutes in adults

5. Length of the spanLength of the span
 Continuous attention span without anyContinuous attention span without any
lapse at all, is very brief about 8 secondslapse at all, is very brief about 8 seconds
 Effects of temperament :Effects of temperament :
child with longer attention span, haschild with longer attention span, has
less behavioral variables (temperless behavioral variables (temper
frequency, temper intensity, irritability,frequency, temper intensity, irritability,
crying, and demanding attention )crying, and demanding attention )

6. Detrimental EffectDetrimental Effect
 Early exposure to televisionEarly exposure to television ((around agearound age
twotwo)) is associated with attention problemsis associated with attention problems
at age sevenat age seven..
 Internet browsing may have a similarInternet browsing may have a similar
effect because it enables rapid viewing.effect because it enables rapid viewing.

7. Types Of AttentionTypes Of Attention
 Overt and Covert AttentionOvert and Covert Attention
**Overt attentionOvert attention is the act of directing sense organsis the act of directing sense organs
towards a stimulus source.towards a stimulus source.
**Covert attentionCovert attention is the act of mentally focusing on oneis the act of mentally focusing on one
of several possible sensory stimuli.of several possible sensory stimuli.
 Voluntary vs. AutomaticVoluntary vs. Automatic
 Executive AttentionExecutive Attention

8. Overt vs. Covert AttentionOvert vs. Covert Attention
 Changes in spatial attention can occur withChanges in spatial attention can occur with
the eyes moving, overtly, or with the eyesthe eyes moving, overtly, or with the eyes
remaining fixated, covertly.remaining fixated, covertly.
 The fovea, is able to bring objects into sharpThe fovea, is able to bring objects into sharp
focus. However, it is this high visual acuityfocus. However, it is this high visual acuity
that is needed to perform actions , the eyesthat is needed to perform actions , the eyes
must continually move in order to direct themust continually move in order to direct the
fovea to the desired goal. Prior to an overtfovea to the desired goal. Prior to an overt
eye movement, where the eyes move to aeye movement, where the eyes move to a
target location, covert attention shifts to thistarget location, covert attention shifts to this
location (Kramer, & Irwin, 2004).location (Kramer, & Irwin, 2004).

9. Overt vs. Covert AttentionOvert vs. Covert Attention
 when a person is driving and keeping theirwhen a person is driving and keeping their
eyes on the road, but then, even though theireyes on the road, but then, even though their
eyes don’t move, their attention shifts fromeyes don’t move, their attention shifts from
the road to thinking about what they need tothe road to thinking about what they need to
get at the grocery store. The eyes mayget at the grocery store. The eyes may
remain focused on the previous objectremain focused on the previous object
attended to, yet attention has shiftedattended to, yet attention has shifted
(Hoffman, 1998).(Hoffman, 1998).

10. AETIOLOGY OF ATTENTIONAETIOLOGY OF ATTENTION
 The Spotlight TheoryThe Spotlight Theory
 Theory of visual attention:Theory of visual attention:
MMoving-Spotlight theoryoving-Spotlight theory
Attention is like a movable spotlight that is directedAttention is like a movable spotlight that is directed
towards intended targets, focusing on each target in atowards intended targets, focusing on each target in a
serial manner. When information is illuminated by theserial manner. When information is illuminated by the
spotlight, hence attended, processing proceeds in aspotlight, hence attended, processing proceeds in a
more efficient manner.more efficient manner.
 However, when a shift of spatial attention occurs, theHowever, when a shift of spatial attention occurs, the
spotlight is turned off while attention shifts to the nextspotlight is turned off while attention shifts to the next
attended location (Sperling & Weichselgartner, 1995;attended location (Sperling & Weichselgartner, 1995;
LaBergeLaBerge et al.et al., 1997)., 1997).

11. Stages of attention orientingStages of attention orienting
 Stages Of Orienting Attention :Stages Of Orienting Attention :
1- The concept for a person to reorient to a new1- The concept for a person to reorient to a new
location, they first would have to disengagelocation, they first would have to disengage
( take attention away from where it is currently( take attention away from where it is currently
focusing).focusing).
2- Physical shifting of one’s attention would2- Physical shifting of one’s attention would
occur from one location to another.occur from one location to another.
3- Attention would be engaged, or focused onto3- Attention would be engaged, or focused onto
the new location (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).the new location (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).

12. Aetiology of attention shiftsAetiology of attention shifts
 Persons affected byPersons affected by progressiveprogressive supranuclearsupranuclear
palsypalsy, , particularly vertical eye movements., , particularly vertical eye movements.
Patients were found to have damage present inPatients were found to have damage present in
the mid-brain area and associated corticalthe mid-brain area and associated cortical
areas. Although patients were not able to moveareas. Although patients were not able to move
their eyes, they were still able to shift attentiontheir eyes, they were still able to shift attention
covertly.covertly.
 There was a slowing of the process of shiftingThere was a slowing of the process of shifting
attention in these patients, suggesting that theattention in these patients, suggesting that the
mid-brain and cortical areas must be associatedmid-brain and cortical areas must be associated
with covert attention shifts.with covert attention shifts.

13. Attention ShiftsAttention Shifts
 Research seems to indicate differences in brainResearch seems to indicate differences in brain
areas activated for overt attention shifts, asareas activated for overt attention shifts, as
compared to covert shifts.compared to covert shifts.
 Previous evidence has shown that thePrevious evidence has shown that the superiorsuperior
colliculuscolliculus is associated with eye movements, oris associated with eye movements, or
overt attention shifts (Posnerovert attention shifts (Posner et al.et al., 1982)., 1982).
Additionally,Additionally, the medial cerebellumthe medial cerebellum has shownhas shown
activation only during eye movements (Corbettaactivation only during eye movements (Corbetta
et al.et al., 1998)., 1998).

14. PPremotorremotor theory of attentiontheory of attention
 Studies have shown more neural overlap .Studies have shown more neural overlap .
 Multiple studies have shown activity evidentMultiple studies have shown activity evident
in the frontal cortex, concentrating in thein the frontal cortex, concentrating in the
precentralprecentral sulcussulcus, the parietal cortex,, the parietal cortex,
specifically in thespecifically in the intraparietalintraparietal sulcussulcus, and in, and in
the lateral occipital cortex for both overt andthe lateral occipital cortex for both overt and
covert attention shifts (Beauchampcovert attention shifts (Beauchamp et al.et al.,,
2001). This is in support of the premotor2001). This is in support of the premotor
theory of attentiontheory of attention

15. Voluntary vs. AutomaticVoluntary vs. Automatic
AttentionAttention
 Attention can be directed either voluntarily, also referredAttention can be directed either voluntarily, also referred
to as endogenous control.to as endogenous control.
 Automatically, which is also called exogenous orAutomatically, which is also called exogenous or
reflexive attention.reflexive attention.
 While endogenous control involves one choosing of theirWhile endogenous control involves one choosing of their
own volition to direct their attention.own volition to direct their attention.
 Exogenous control occurs when an external object orExogenous control occurs when an external object or
event attracts it involuntarily.event attracts it involuntarily.
 The neural mechanisms in the brain have been shownThe neural mechanisms in the brain have been shown
to produce differnt patterns of activity for endogenousto produce differnt patterns of activity for endogenous
and exogenous attention (Gazzaniga,and exogenous attention (Gazzaniga, et al.et al., 2002, 2002

16. Neural mechanismsNeural mechanisms
 Specifically, the dorsal posterior parietal and frontalSpecifically, the dorsal posterior parietal and frontal
cortex region are mainly implicated withcortex region are mainly implicated with voluntaryvoluntary
attentionattention, while activity is transiently shown in the, while activity is transiently shown in the
occipital region.occipital region.
- Neural areas involved in- Neural areas involved in reflexive attentionreflexive attention are believedare believed
to have the purpose of focusing attention on events orto have the purpose of focusing attention on events or
objects that stand out in the environment.objects that stand out in the environment.
- The temporoparietal cortex and ventral frontal cortex- The temporoparietal cortex and ventral frontal cortex
region, particularly in the right brain hemisphere, haveregion, particularly in the right brain hemisphere, have
shown involvement with reflexive attention (Corbetta andshown involvement with reflexive attention (Corbetta and
Shulman, 2002).Shulman, 2002).

17. Clinical model of attentionClinical model of attention
 Focused attention:Focused attention: This is the ability to respond discretely toThis is the ability to respond discretely to
specific visual, auditory or tactile stimuli.specific visual, auditory or tactile stimuli.
 Sustained attention:Sustained attention: This refers to the ability to maintain aThis refers to the ability to maintain a
consistent behavioral response during continuous and repetitiveconsistent behavioral response during continuous and repetitive
activity.activity.
 Selective attention:Selective attention: : This level of attention refers to the capacity to: This level of attention refers to the capacity to
maintain a behavioral or cognitive set in the face of distracting ormaintain a behavioral or cognitive set in the face of distracting or
competing stimuli.competing stimuli.
 Alternating attention:Alternating attention: it refers to the capacity for mental flexibilityit refers to the capacity for mental flexibility
that allows individuals to shift their focus of attention and movethat allows individuals to shift their focus of attention and move
between tasks having different cognitive requirements.between tasks having different cognitive requirements.
 Divided attention:Divided attention: This is the highest level of attention and it refersThis is the highest level of attention and it refers
to the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks or multipleto the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks or multiple
task demandstask demands

18. Problems of AttentionProblems of Attention
- ADHDADHD
- ADD in children.ADD in children.
- ADD in adultsADD in adults..