Selective Attention

The cognitive system’s ability to selectively focus on specific information while suppressing irrelevant stimuli.

Levels of Analysis

Neural: prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex
Cognitive: filtering, prioritization
Behavioral: choosing a target of attention, resisting distractions

Inputs

• sensory stimuli
• goals and task demands
• context
• expectations

Outputs

• enhanced processing of the selected stimulus
• suppression of competing signals
• increased perceptual accuracy

Related Processes

• Working Memory
• Cognitive Control
• Perceptual Filtering
• Executive Attention

Related Models

• Spotlight Model
• Feature Integration Theory
• Biased Competition Model

Related Biases

• Attentional Bias
• Salience Bias
• Anchoring (via early stimulus fixation)

Example

A person hears their name in a noisy room despite ignoring the background chatter.

Visual Schema

Input → Filtering → Prioritization → Focused Processing