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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
09:37
Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
Published on: July 5, 2015
An overview of attention: behavior and brain
1Landon Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. jmcdowd@kumc.edu
Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy : JNPT
|November 21, 2007
Summary
This review explores attention in psychology, covering attentional resources, effort, and functional contexts like selective and divided attention. It provides a foundation for understanding attention
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Attention is a fundamental cognitive process crucial for information processing and behavior.
- Understanding attention is key to explaining various psychological phenomena and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of attention as studied in psychology.
- To highlight theoretical themes and functional approaches to attention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of key theories and concepts in attention research.
- Functional analysis of attention across different task contexts.
Main Results:
- Attention is conceptualized through attentional resources and effort.
- Four functional contexts of attention are described: selective, divided, switching, and sustained.
- Factors influencing performance in each attentional context are identified.
Conclusions:
- Attentional functions are distributed across the brain, supported by models like Posner's attentional network and Mesulam's attentional matrix.
- This review offers a foundational understanding of attention for practical applications in everyday behavior and performance.
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