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Related Experiment Video

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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
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Published on: January 23, 2017

Urbanization decreases attentional engagement.

Karina J Linnell1, Serge Caparos, Jan W de Fockert

  • 1Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance
|January 24, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Urban living defocuses spatial attention, unlike traditional lifestyles. Engaging tasks can restore focused attention, suggesting urban environments favor exploration over focused cognitive control.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Urban environments are increasingly prevalent globally.
  • Urbanization is linked to changes in cognitive processing.
  • The impact of urbanization on attentional mechanisms requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of urbanization on spatial attention.
  • To compare attentional focus between traditionally living and urbanized populations.
  • To explore the influence of cognitive load and task engagement on attention in different environments.

Main Methods:

  • A local-selection task was administered to traditionally living and urbanized Himba people.
  • Experiments manipulated cognitive load and task engagement.
  • Performance on spatial attention and working memory tasks was assessed.

Main Results:

  • Urbanized Himba exhibited defocused spatial attention compared to traditional Himba.
  • Cognitive load equally defocused attention in both groups.
  • Engaging tasks improved attentional focus in urbanized individuals, matching traditional Himba and British participants.

Conclusions:

  • Urban environments may promote a broader, less focused attentional style.
  • This shift prioritizes environmental exploration over focused cognitive control.
  • Attentional patterns are adaptable and influenced by environmental demands and task characteristics.