FINAL EXAM (COGSCI 200) UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
what does attention do? - CORRECT ANSWER - implements algorithms that enhance the
quality of processing of the stimuli that are targeted. These targeted stimuli are said to be "in the
spotlight of attention".
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) represents which of the following components of the temporal
difference algorithm (i.e., Q learning algorithm)? - CORRECT ANSWER - prediction
error
(T/F): The Heuristics and Biases program and Neuroeconomics Program are in agreement on the
following claim: Human beings are mostly irrational. - CORRECT ANSWER - false
the cocktail party effect - CORRECT ANSWER - Illustrates the ability to selectively focus
on one among multiple stimuli
overt attention - CORRECT ANSWER - It refers to where the subject is directing their
senses, for example, where they are pointing their pupils.
visual search - CORRECT ANSWER - Task involving active scan of environment for a
specific stimulus
covert attention - CORRECT ANSWER - it is the set of mental processes that selectively
enhance targeted stimuli.
early selection theories (e.g., Broadbent's theory) - CORRECT ANSWER - (1) sensory
input from all 5 stimuli -->
(2) early selection (open or closed); attention filters out 1, 2, 4, 5 -->
,(3) perception
(4) higher processing / response selection -->
(5) response
cocktail party effect (the name effect) - CORRECT ANSWER - a problem for early
selection theories is that people are able to respond to stimuli that are supposed to be "filtered
out" according to the theory
late selection theories - CORRECT ANSWER - (1) sensory input of all five stimuli -->
(2) perception (of ALL five stimuli) -->
(3) late selection (open or closed); attention filters out 1, 2, 4, 5 AFTER perception of all five
stimuli -->
(4) higher processing / response selection -->
(5) response
dichotic listening tasks - CORRECT ANSWER - a problem for late selection theories is
that in these types of tasks, subjects are able to report very little of what is going on in the
unattended channel. (e.g., shadowing task)
*if subjects PERCEIVE all the stimuli in both ears (which is what late selection theories say),
shouldnt they be able to also subsequently report the stimuli in the unattended ear???
An experimental subject keeps her pupils directed at the center of a screen. But she directs
attention to words written in the lower left corner. Her attention to the lower left corner illustrates
which of the following: - CORRECT ANSWER - covert attention
the spotlight of attention is directed/allocated in 2 ways: - CORRECT ANSWER - top-
down voluntary allocation (or "voluntary attention") and bottom-up automatic allocation (or
"stimulus-driven attention")
top-down voluntary allocation - CORRECT ANSWER - voluntary attention
, posner attention cueing task - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates voluntary attention
Subjects are told to press L or R to indicate where the "X" shows up
Subjects respond much faster on cue trials because they can use their (conscious, explicit)
knowledge to voluntarily guide attention to where the target is expected
Visual Pop-Out Effect - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates stimulus-driven attention
the unique stimulus that contrasts with the others "pops out", i.e., it automatically grabs the
attention spotlight
distractor task - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates the interplay of bottom-up stimulus-
driven attention and top-down voluntary attention; "select the item with a unique orientation"
working memory - CORRECT ANSWER - allows temporary STORAGE
and PROCESSING of information that isn't perceptually present
Alan Baddeleys "Multi-Component" Model of Working Memory - CORRECT ANSWER -
suggests that the regions actively storing short-term memory are different than those storing
long-term memory
illustrations of voluntary attention - CORRECT ANSWER - cocktail party effect, visual
search, posner attention cuing task
illustration of stimulus driven attention - CORRECT ANSWER - visual pop-out effect
illustration of interplay between voluntary attention and stimulus-driven attention - CORRECT
ANSWER - distractor task
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
what does attention do? - CORRECT ANSWER - implements algorithms that enhance the
quality of processing of the stimuli that are targeted. These targeted stimuli are said to be "in the
spotlight of attention".
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) represents which of the following components of the temporal
difference algorithm (i.e., Q learning algorithm)? - CORRECT ANSWER - prediction
error
(T/F): The Heuristics and Biases program and Neuroeconomics Program are in agreement on the
following claim: Human beings are mostly irrational. - CORRECT ANSWER - false
the cocktail party effect - CORRECT ANSWER - Illustrates the ability to selectively focus
on one among multiple stimuli
overt attention - CORRECT ANSWER - It refers to where the subject is directing their
senses, for example, where they are pointing their pupils.
visual search - CORRECT ANSWER - Task involving active scan of environment for a
specific stimulus
covert attention - CORRECT ANSWER - it is the set of mental processes that selectively
enhance targeted stimuli.
early selection theories (e.g., Broadbent's theory) - CORRECT ANSWER - (1) sensory
input from all 5 stimuli -->
(2) early selection (open or closed); attention filters out 1, 2, 4, 5 -->
,(3) perception
(4) higher processing / response selection -->
(5) response
cocktail party effect (the name effect) - CORRECT ANSWER - a problem for early
selection theories is that people are able to respond to stimuli that are supposed to be "filtered
out" according to the theory
late selection theories - CORRECT ANSWER - (1) sensory input of all five stimuli -->
(2) perception (of ALL five stimuli) -->
(3) late selection (open or closed); attention filters out 1, 2, 4, 5 AFTER perception of all five
stimuli -->
(4) higher processing / response selection -->
(5) response
dichotic listening tasks - CORRECT ANSWER - a problem for late selection theories is
that in these types of tasks, subjects are able to report very little of what is going on in the
unattended channel. (e.g., shadowing task)
*if subjects PERCEIVE all the stimuli in both ears (which is what late selection theories say),
shouldnt they be able to also subsequently report the stimuli in the unattended ear???
An experimental subject keeps her pupils directed at the center of a screen. But she directs
attention to words written in the lower left corner. Her attention to the lower left corner illustrates
which of the following: - CORRECT ANSWER - covert attention
the spotlight of attention is directed/allocated in 2 ways: - CORRECT ANSWER - top-
down voluntary allocation (or "voluntary attention") and bottom-up automatic allocation (or
"stimulus-driven attention")
top-down voluntary allocation - CORRECT ANSWER - voluntary attention
, posner attention cueing task - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates voluntary attention
Subjects are told to press L or R to indicate where the "X" shows up
Subjects respond much faster on cue trials because they can use their (conscious, explicit)
knowledge to voluntarily guide attention to where the target is expected
Visual Pop-Out Effect - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates stimulus-driven attention
the unique stimulus that contrasts with the others "pops out", i.e., it automatically grabs the
attention spotlight
distractor task - CORRECT ANSWER - illustrates the interplay of bottom-up stimulus-
driven attention and top-down voluntary attention; "select the item with a unique orientation"
working memory - CORRECT ANSWER - allows temporary STORAGE
and PROCESSING of information that isn't perceptually present
Alan Baddeleys "Multi-Component" Model of Working Memory - CORRECT ANSWER -
suggests that the regions actively storing short-term memory are different than those storing
long-term memory
illustrations of voluntary attention - CORRECT ANSWER - cocktail party effect, visual
search, posner attention cuing task
illustration of stimulus driven attention - CORRECT ANSWER - visual pop-out effect
illustration of interplay between voluntary attention and stimulus-driven attention - CORRECT
ANSWER - distractor task
