Visual attention operates like a spotlight - it roves around our field of vision and registers things of importance. This conceptualizes how we process visual stimuli and how attention is not necessarily where our eyes are pointed and focused. An evolution of this is Eriksen and St. James' Zoom-Lens Model, which adds the ability to zoom in and zoom out, like a camera. Muller and Hubner, supported the theory and even suggested that the attentional spotlight can be shaped like a doughnut. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. The spotlight. That is one can ignore the center of their spotlight and only focus there attention on the boundaries of it. Spotlight model of attention and our ability to multitask study guide by William_Valley includes 3 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Attentional spotlight is a method for describing how visual attention operates in our visual field.

This size-change mechanism was inspired by the zoom lens one might find on a camera, and any change in size can be described by a … The prevailing metaphor for spatial attention is that of a spotlight, where stimuli inside the spotlight are selected for privileged processing at the expense of stimuli outside of the spotlight (e.g., Eriksen & Hoffman, 1973; Grubert, Righi, & Eimer, 2013; Tsal & Lavie, 1988). William James' Spotlight model views attention as being like a torch, with a central focus, a margin and a fringe. This model inherits all properties of the spotlight model (i.e., the focus, the fringe, and the margin), but it has the added property of changing in size. A remaining question concerned whether divided attention across the two hemifields might be a special case, given that there is some evidence that each half of the brain may have its own attentional spotlight. The Spotlight of Attention All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more clinical psychologists or other qualified mental health professionals. There are two major models for understanding how visual attention operates, both of which are loose metaphors for the actual neural processes occurring. This specific article was originally published by Gordon Shippey on January 13, 2014 and was last reviewed or updated by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on April 22, 2014 . Visual Attention Spotlight Model (Posner) • Focus visual attention to an area by using a cue – “Spotlight” or “zoom lens” • measure time to identify target item when: – observer does not know where item will appear – observer does know where item will appear •cueis a … Spotlight Model The term “spotlight” was inspired by the work of William James, who described attention as having a focus, a margin, and a fringe.