Taken together, the evidence suggests that dividing attention
does generally impair memory retrieval
, especially with only modest levels of retrieval practice. In the experiments reported below, we use divided-attention manipulations known to produce substantial interference during memory recall.
What is the problem with divided attention?
Divided attention is
the ability to process more than one piece of information at a time
. Deficits in divided attention are due to a limited capacity for cognitive processes after TBI. When the system becomes overloaded, relevant information can be missed.
How does divided attention affect accuracy?
Overall
accuracy was higher in the divided than in
the full attention group [F(1, 46) = 4.90, p = 0.03]. … However, attention did not interact with study condition [p > 0.25]. Separate ANOVAs for possible and impossible objects revealed no significant effects for impossible objects [all p > 0.25].
What factors influence divided attention?
Previous research on factors that influence divided attention have focused on
resource allocation, age of participants, task difficulty and familiarity
, practice effects as well as brain areas that control dual task performance.
Can divided attention be improved?
Divided attention can be improved
on with practice
. With practice on the desired tasks it it possible to use up less attentional resources while performing both tasks at once. There have also been signs that how well people divide their attention depends on that person’s intelligence.
Is divided attention bad?
Taken together, the evidence suggests that dividing attention does
generally impair memory retrieval
, especially with only modest levels of retrieval practice. In the experiments reported below, we use divided-attention manipulations known to produce substantial interference during memory recall.
How does divided attention affect memory?
The results of both experiments showed that unlike division of attention at encoding, which reduces memory performance markedly, division of attention at retrieval
has almost no effect on memory performance
, but was accompanied by an increase in secondary-task cost.
What is an example of divided attention?
Divided attention occurs when mental focus is directed towards multiple ideas, or tasks, at once. This skill is also known as multitasking, which people often carry out without realizing it. A great example of this would be
singing along to a song while driving a car
.
What is the difference between divided and selective attention?
Selective attention is the ability to select from many factors or stimuli and to focus on only the one that you want while filtering out other distractions. … Divided attention is
the ability to process two or more responses or react to two or more different demands simultaneously
.
What’s an example of selective attention?
Multiple conversations, the clinking of plates and forks, and many other sounds compete for your attention
. … This is an example of selective attention. Because our ability to attend to the things around us is limited in terms of both capacity and duration, we have to be picky about the things we pay attention to.
How do you develop divided attention?
One exercise a child can do at home to improve divided attention is to practice Stroop tasks. Using the image below,
let them look at the words and say the color of each word
. Do NOT read the words ― only say the color of the words. For example, if the word “PURPLE” is printed in a red color, they should say “RED”.
What happens in the brain when attention is divided?
In comparison with a single task or stimulus, divided attention is associated with
an increased demand on cognitive processing which is reflected in reduced accuracy and/or processing speed
[the latter measured as reaction time (RT) (Posner, 1978)].
What are the internal factors of attention?
Internal (Subjective) factors: The
subjective factors which influence attention are interests, motive, mind set and our attitudes & moods
. It is believed that interest is the mother of attention, as we pay attention or focus on those objects about which we have interest.
What are the theories of divided attention?
The ability to balance so many activities at the same time is possible because of the divided attention psychology. To put it briefly, divided attention refers to the
brain’s ability to focus or perform two or more tasks at the same time
. It is like simultaneously paying attention to different tasks.
Is it possible to focus attention on just one thing even when there are many other things going on at the same time?
Terms in this set (67) Is it possible to focus attention on just one thing, even when there are lots of other things going on at the same time? …
We are unable to divide our attention
when tasks are too complex or high-load tasks.
When a person’s attention is divided ones brain is switching back and forth?
What is “
multitasking
”? the performance of more than one task at the same time. When a person’s attention is divided, one’s brain is switching back and forth between tasks rather than distributing attention among all the tasks at the same time.
