Types and

Models of
Attention
Presenter : Apoorva kale
 What is Attention??

Attention is the behavioral and cognitive

process of selectively concentrating on a discrete
aspect of information, whether deemed subjective
or objective, while ignoring other perceivable
information.
Types of attention
▪Focused attention: The ability to respond discretely to specific
visual, auditory or tactile stimuli.
▪Sustained attention (vigilance): The ability to maintain a
consistent behavioral response during continuous and repetitive
activity.
▪Selective attention: The ability to maintain a behavioral or
cognitive set in the face of distracting or competing stimuli.
Therefore it incorporates the notion of "freedom from
distractibility."
▪Alternating attention: The ability of mental flexibility that
allows individuals to shift their focus of attention and move
between tasks having different cognitive requirements.
▪Divided attention: This is the highest level of attention and it
refers to the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks or
Models of Attention
▪Broadbent’s filter Model
▪ Norman and Bobrow’s Model
▪ Treisman attenuation model
▪Deutsch and Deutsch model
There are two broad theories/models
of attention
▪Bottle neck theories

▪Capacity theories
 Bottle neck
theories
▪ Bottleneck theories propose that there is a narrow
passage way similar to a bottle neck in human
information processing. This limits the quantity of
information to which we can pay attention. It regulates
the flow of information and prevents overload of
information.
⮚The models that are based on the bottle neck theories are
▪Broadbent’s filter model

▪Treisman’s attenuation model

▪The Deutsch- Norman memory selection model.

⮚These models describe instead of all the information that is
presented to us, why only a small portion of it actually gets
through?
⮚They are inherent models of selective attention because they
describe how some information is selected for processing as the
rest gets discarded
⮚If one piece of information is currently flowing through the
bottleneck, then other piece of information must be left behind
⮚The notion is that some where in the processing of information a
bottleneck exists, part of which is due to neurologic limitations.
⮚ Restricting the amount of information that receives further
processing is vital because it prevents overload of information.
 Broadbent’s Model

⮚This theory was developed by Donald Broadbent (1958).

⮚ This model aimed to explain the results of experiments in which

two streams or channels of information must be processed
simultaneously, such as in dichotic listening where both ears
receive stimuli in synchrony.

⮚ Broadbent proposed a theory to account for why we can’t follow

two streams of information coming in simultaneously via two ears.
⮚The Filter model of attention was based on “Single Channel
Theory”

⮚He followed the earlier studies done on selective attention,

mainly those using dichotic listening task. Earlier tasks showed
that participants were fairly accurate in recalling content from the
shadowed ear, but quite poor for recalling those coming from the
unattended ear (Cherry, 1953).
⮚First, the attended and unattended information goes to the
sensory store were the information is held before processing.
⮚Next, a filter selects certain portions of the information coming
from the shadowed channel and allows it to pass through.
⮚Information coming from the unattended channel is blocked.
⮚The selection in this model is based on the physical
characteristics of the stimuli (pitch and loudness), and location
(left or right ear), rather than semantic content.
⮚Hereafter, whichever information travels after the filter undergoes
pattern recognition, and subsequently is selected for short term
storage.
⮚The selection in this model is done by the filter entirely and not
by any selection mechanism that comes later. This model is
referred to as “early selection model” because the filter screens
out information before it can be recognized.
⮚According to Broadbent, the physical characteristics of the
message allow us to select one message and ignore the other.
Strengths & Weakness

⮚Explains why so many characteristics of the unattended message are not

noticed; that is, they simply can’t get through the barrier

⮚But it fails to explain why we notice other characteristics (apart from

physical properties of the stimuli; i.e. Semantic features!!)
For example, how we can notice our own name in an unattended message if
it is blocked by a barrier

⮚ Only based on sensory analysis of physical characteristics

Treisman’s attenuation model
It was given by Treisman, 1964, which is similar to filter theory.
Instead of completely blocking out the unattended message,
the filter attenuates or weakens it. The addition is that the
unattended message would be passing through all the
processing stages, but in a weakened form. After attenuator
information is processed in mental dictionary where some
things are very important than other. This model consists of
two components, each relying on the other to function
⮚Developed by Anne Treisman (1960)
⮚Participants could able to hear their
name through the unattended channel
⮚Treisman argued that instead of a
strict filter, processing was attenuated
(reduced) for the unattended stimuli.
⮚She suggested that in the participant’s
dictionary, some words have lower
thresholds for activation
⮚Thus, important words or sounds (cry
of one’s child) are activated more
easily than less important signals.
ADVANTAGES:

⮚Broadbent's is a simple single filter model, whereas

Treisman's can be thought of as a two-stage filtering
process : based on physical characteristics and threshold of
signal.

DISADVANTAGES:

⮚The theory does not explain exactly how semantic analysis

works
⮚The nature of the attenuation process has never been
precisely specified
⮚A problem with dichotic listening tasks, is that a person can
never be sure that the participants have to actually switch
 The Deutsch- Deutsch
Model
▪ The model was given by Deutsch & Deutsch 1963, and Norman
in 1968. This model is an example of a late selection model.
This runs contrary to early filter models that posit physical
characteristics such as loudness or pitch as the primary basis
for selection.
⮚The last two are known as ‘early selection models’ because
information is selected before it reaches awareness and short
term memory.
⮚Deutsch and Deutsch (1963) have argued for a ‘late selection
model’.
⮚This is where all information reaches short term memory, and
the selection happens at that point.
⮚Supported by experiments that have shown quite
sophisticated semantic analysis can happen with unattended
stimuli.
Input 1
Control Process
Pattern Output
Input 2 Recognition Filter E.g. Memory
response

Instead of assuming that selection occurs prior to

full pattern recognition, the late selection model
placed the filter after recognition.
 ▪Capacity Theories
▪They are called the theories of divided attention. They
conceptualize attention as a limited resource that must
be spread around different informational sources.

▪The models that come under capacity theories are

⮚Norman & Bobrow’s model

 Norman and Bobrow’s Model
▪ It was given by Norman and Bobrow (1975). They proposed that the limits
of attention are related to the limited amount of mental effort that we can
spend on a task. Instead, the deterioration of performance that occurs when
we divide our attention is a result of several processes competing for the
same limited resources. It discusses two types of tasks:

✔ Data limited tasks in which performance is limited by the quality of the data
(or information) rather than by the limits of attention and resource limited
tasks.

✔ Task in which performance can be improved if more resources are supplied to

the task.
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⮚ Miller and Eimas(1995).Speech,language and communication

⮚ Carrow-Woolfolk(1980).An integrative approach to language disorders in children

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