Attempts to offer a balance between an overview of Attention and an emphasis on how theories and paradigms for the study of Attention have developed. This book highlights issues and findings while giving details of experimental studies, models, and theories. It includes chapter previews, chapter summaries, key words, a glossary, and tables.

This text is: Balanced - this book gives equal coverage to theory, experimental paradigms and results, neuropsychology, and applications; Adaptable - 'Technical Boxes' isolate technical procedures and difficult models, which can be omitted without interrupting the flow of the chapters, allowing instructors to adjust the material to the level of their course; and, Pedagogical - this book includes brief chapter previews, chapter summaries, highlighted key words, an end-of-book glossary, and an abundance of figures, and tables that enhance student understanding.

1. Historical Overview of Research on Attention - with Kim-Phuong L. Vu

The Philosophical Period

The Period from 1860 to 1909

The Period from 1910 to 1949

The Period from 1950 to 1974

The Period from 1975 to Present

Summary &
Preview of the Book 2. Information Processing &
the Study of Attention

The Information Processing Approach

Mental Resources

Behavioral Measures

Signal Detection Methods

Psychophysiological Measures

Brain Imaging Techniques

Summary 3. Selective Visual Attention

The Function of Selective Attention

The Locus of Selection

The Spotlight of Attention

Exogenous &
Endogenous Orienting

Space-based versus Object-based Attention

Visual Search

Combining Object- and Space-based Selection in Theories of Visual Attention

Summary 4. Auditory &
Crossmodal Attention

Auditory Selective Attention

Divided Auditory Attention

Alerting &
Orienting Functions of Auditory

Attention

Attentional Set

Cross-modal Attention

Summary 5. Attention &
Inhibition

Types of Inhibition

(Attempted) Inhibition of Irrelevant Information

Inhibition of Return

Visual Marking

Negative Priming

Inhibition of Thought &
Action

Responding to a Signal to Stop

Summary. 6. Multiple-Task Performance

Managing Attentional Resources

Setting Goals &
Intentions

Control of Multi-step Tasks

Intentional Control &
Multitasking

Attention &
Skill

A Closer Look at Dual-task Performance

Summary 7. Memory &
Attention - with Mark Nieuwenstein

Sensory Memory

Working Memory

The Role of Attention in Encoding &
Retrieval

Memory Consolidation &
Attention

The Bottleneck Model Revisited

Procedural Memory

Implicit Learning

Attention, Memory, &
Skill

Summary 8. Attention &
Displays -
with Kim-Phuong L. Vu

Visual Displays

Organization of Displays

Auditory &
Multisensory Displays

Supervisory Control

Complex Tasks &
Display Arrangements

Sustained Attention &
Vigilance

Summary 9. Mental Workload &
Situation Awareness

Processing Resources

Processing Strategies

Measuring Mental Workload

Situation Awareness

Human Error

Summary 10. Individual Differences in Attention

Attentional Ability

Attention &
Intelligence

Intra-individual Differences in Attention

Attention Across the Lifespan

Training &
Attention

Attention, &
Memory &
Emotion

Summary 11. The Neural Basis of Attention - Robert Melara

Tools of the Cognitive Neuroscientist

Mismatch Negativity: The Automatic Detection of Change

Selective Attention

The Duality of Selection

The Sources of Selective Control

The Sites of Selective Control

Attentional Networks

Summary. 12. Disorders of Attention -
with Edward de Haan &
Roy Kessels

Developmental Attention Disorders

Attention Deficits Due to Focal Lesions &
Hemorrhage

Attention Deficits Following Diffuse Injury

Measuring Attention Deficits

Dementia

Attention Deficits in Psychiatric Patients

Treatment of Attention Deficits

Summary References