AttentionAnn Morrison, Ph.D.

Attention

Definition Network of controls over brain

performance, including mental energy, processing of incoming information, & regulation of output

Source: All Kinds of Minds

Attention

There are many different types of attention

People who have typical attention can apply the correct type of attention to various situations

People who struggle with attention have trouble applying the correct type of attention to a situation

Attention System

Mental Energy

• Alertness• Mental

exertion• Energy flow• Sleep/arousal

balance

Processing Controls

• Saliency Determination

• Processing Depth-Detail

• Cognitive Activation

• Focal Maintenance

• Satisfaction Level

Production Controls

• Previewing• Self-

monitoring• Pacing• Facilitation

and inhibition

All Kinds of Minds

Important Idea for Assessment

Is a child’s poor attention the source of the problem or a manifestation of another problem? Is a child’s poor attention due to

inefficient neurobiology that impacts attention (frontal lobe issues) or is it a manifestation of another issue?

Examples could include: anxiety, distress, events, disinterest, etc.

Mental Energy Controls

Alertness Vigilance for intentional intake of

information Mental exertion

Energy allocation for cognitive work Energy flow

Reliability of cognitive energy supply Sleep/arousal imbalance

Regulation of sleep/wake cycles

All Kinds of Minds

Processing Controls (input) Saliency Determination

Discrimination between more & less important inputs Processing Depth-Detail

Intensity of focus for interpreting & storing incoming stimuli/information

Cognitive Activation Using incoming information to trigger new ideas & connect with

prior knowledge & experience Focal Maintenance

Appropriately sustaining, transitioning, & dividing focus on incoming information

Satisfaction Level Capacity to focus on activities or topics yielding only moderate or

low levels of excitation; relative need for intense stimulation & gratification

All Kinds of Minds

Production Controls (output) Previewing

Anticipation of likely outcomes Self-monitoring

Observing one’s own output & work Pacing

Working or acting at a rate that is appropriate to the task, without rushing

Facilitation and inhibition Appropriate response inhibition; consideration

of options for action, suppression of ill-advised output prior to acting or starting a task

All Kinds of Minds

Stroop Task

Take out a piece of scratch paper and something to write with

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/ready.html

I will put up two pages of words that are written in various colors

To yourself, say the names of the colors as accurately and quickly as you can

Note and record your time when you finish

Interference

The Stroop task demonstrates the effect of interference in the reaction time of a task

In learning, the interaction between new skills or knowledge and existing skills or knowledge

Transfer to Practice

What are some school-based examples of interference that may slow learning for children?

What can teachers do to minimize interference?

Task Switching Experiment First trial: note whether number is

greater or less than 5 (green)

Task Switching Experiment Second trial: note wither the number

is odd or even (purple)

Task Switching Experiment Third trial: if the paper is purple,

note whether it is odd or even, if the paper is green note whether it is greater or less than 5

Switch Cost

The speed and accuracy of alternating tasks 1 and 2 are slowed considerably compared to the speed and accuracy of performing tasks 1 and 2 sequentially

Transfer to Practice

What are classroom-based examples of task switching?

What can teachers do to reduce switch costs?