Attention

Attention is the cognitive process by which the brain selects a subset of information for detailed processing while ignoring other stimuli. It is closely linked to alertness but refers to selective processing rather than general arousal.

People study several forms of attention: selective attention (focusing on one source while filtering others), sustained attention (vigilance over time), divided attention (handling multiple tasks), and executive attention (control of thoughts and actions). Two broad mechanisms are often described: top-down, goal-directed attention driven by expectations and task demands; and bottom-up, stimulus-driven attention triggered by salient events.

Neural bases include networks that coordinate attention: the dorsal attention network (frontal eye fields and intraparietal sulcus) supports intentional focusing, and the ventral attention network (temporoparietal junction and ventral frontal cortex) supports reorienting to unexpected stimuli. The thalamus, particularly the pulvinar, acts as a gate for sensory information; the locus coeruleus–norepinephrine system modulates arousal and salience.

Assessment relies on tasks such as Stroop, Flanker, and Change Detection, along with neuroimaging methods like EEG/ERP and fMRI.

Developmentally, attentional capabilities emerge in infancy and mature through childhood and adolescence; impairments include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and neglect syndromes following parietal damage.

In applied contexts, attention affects learning, safety, and human–system design. Researchers also study attention training and methods to reduce distraction, though effects on broad, real-world performance are variable.