Brian Bruya
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262013840
- eISBN:
- 9780262269438
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262013840.003.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This book traces the theory of attention, including effortless attention and action, which help an individual to achieve more with little effort. The stage at which attention and action become ...
More
This book traces the theory of attention, including effortless attention and action, which help an individual to achieve more with little effort. The stage at which attention and action become efforts results in increased efficiency without any detrimental effect on the individual’s performance or productivity. The book reveals that such effortless attention and action are observed across a wide range of activities, extending from rock climbing to personal conversation. Research in this field needs to concentrate on examining and testing the existing models and theories on attention and action, improving respective contributions into making attention and action more effortless.Less
This book traces the theory of attention, including effortless attention and action, which help an individual to achieve more with little effort. The stage at which attention and action become efforts results in increased efficiency without any detrimental effect on the individual’s performance or productivity. The book reveals that such effortless attention and action are observed across a wide range of activities, extending from rock climbing to personal conversation. Research in this field needs to concentrate on examining and testing the existing models and theories on attention and action, improving respective contributions into making attention and action more effortless.
Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haroutioun Haladjian
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028974
- eISBN:
- 9780262327497
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028974.003.0002
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
This chapter presents an overview of the research on visual attention, which has been studied extensively in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The studies discussed are limited to the major ...
More
This chapter presents an overview of the research on visual attention, which has been studied extensively in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The studies discussed are limited to the major empirical findings on visual attention that have implications for the scientific understanding of consciousness. The chapter includes studies on feature-based attention, spatial attention, object-based attention, effortless attention, the mechanisms supporting the different forms of attention (e.g., neural structures and pathways), and the evolution of these mechanisms. This review is important for the book’s primary argument that consciousness and attention must be dissociated at some level, as there are functionally different forms of attention that seem to operate independently and to have evolved at different times from each other—an argument that is difficult to make for consciousness.Less
This chapter presents an overview of the research on visual attention, which has been studied extensively in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The studies discussed are limited to the major empirical findings on visual attention that have implications for the scientific understanding of consciousness. The chapter includes studies on feature-based attention, spatial attention, object-based attention, effortless attention, the mechanisms supporting the different forms of attention (e.g., neural structures and pathways), and the evolution of these mechanisms. This review is important for the book’s primary argument that consciousness and attention must be dissociated at some level, as there are functionally different forms of attention that seem to operate independently and to have evolved at different times from each other—an argument that is difficult to make for consciousness.
Brian Bruya (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262013840
- eISBN:
- 9780262269438
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262013840.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This book explores the cognitive science of effortless attention and action. Attention and action are generally understood to require effort, and it is expected that under normal circumstances, ...
More
This book explores the cognitive science of effortless attention and action. Attention and action are generally understood to require effort, and it is expected that under normal circumstances, effort increases to meet rising demand. Sometimes, however, attention and action seem to flow effortlessly despite high demand. Effortless attention and action have been documented across a range of normal activities—ranging from rock climbing to chess playing—and yet fundamental questions about effortlessness have gone largely unasked. This book draws from the field of cognitive psychology, neurophysiology, behavioral psychology, genetics, philosophy, and cross-cultural studies to address those questions. Starting from the premise that the phenomena of effortless attention and action provide an opportunity to test current models of attention and action, researchers—including effort as a cognitive resource—clarify topics such as the role of effort in decision-making, the neurophysiology of effortless attention and action, the role of automaticity in effortless action, expert performance in effortless action, and the neurophysiology and benefits of attentional training.Less
This book explores the cognitive science of effortless attention and action. Attention and action are generally understood to require effort, and it is expected that under normal circumstances, effort increases to meet rising demand. Sometimes, however, attention and action seem to flow effortlessly despite high demand. Effortless attention and action have been documented across a range of normal activities—ranging from rock climbing to chess playing—and yet fundamental questions about effortlessness have gone largely unasked. This book draws from the field of cognitive psychology, neurophysiology, behavioral psychology, genetics, philosophy, and cross-cultural studies to address those questions. Starting from the premise that the phenomena of effortless attention and action provide an opportunity to test current models of attention and action, researchers—including effort as a cognitive resource—clarify topics such as the role of effort in decision-making, the neurophysiology of effortless attention and action, the role of automaticity in effortless action, expert performance in effortless action, and the neurophysiology and benefits of attentional training.
Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haroutioun Haladjian
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028974
- eISBN:
- 9780262327497
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028974.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
In this book, Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haladjian consider the relationship between consciousness and attention. The cognitive mechanism of attention has often been compared to consciousness, since ...
More
In this book, Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haladjian consider the relationship between consciousness and attention. The cognitive mechanism of attention has often been compared to consciousness, since attention and consciousness appear to share similar qualities. Attention, however, can be defined functionally, whereas consciousness is generally defined in terms of its phenomenal character without a clear functional purpose. This book offers new insights and proposals about how best to understand and study the relationship between consciousness and visual attention by examining their functional aspects. The ultimate conclusion of the book is that consciousness and attention are largely dissociated. After a rigorous analysis of the current empirical and theoretical work on attention and consciousness, a spectrum of dissociation is proposed. This framework identifies the levels of dissociation between consciousness and attention, from identity to full dissociation. It is argued that conscious attention—the focusing of attention on the contents of awareness—is constituted by overlapping but distinct processes of consciousness and attention. This conscious attention likely evolved after the basic forms of attention, increasing access to the richest kinds of cognitive contents. Therefore, a focused examination of conscious attention should enable theoretical and empirical progress that will further our understanding of the human mind and help unify the study of consciousness and attention across the disciplines.Less
In this book, Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haladjian consider the relationship between consciousness and attention. The cognitive mechanism of attention has often been compared to consciousness, since attention and consciousness appear to share similar qualities. Attention, however, can be defined functionally, whereas consciousness is generally defined in terms of its phenomenal character without a clear functional purpose. This book offers new insights and proposals about how best to understand and study the relationship between consciousness and visual attention by examining their functional aspects. The ultimate conclusion of the book is that consciousness and attention are largely dissociated. After a rigorous analysis of the current empirical and theoretical work on attention and consciousness, a spectrum of dissociation is proposed. This framework identifies the levels of dissociation between consciousness and attention, from identity to full dissociation. It is argued that conscious attention—the focusing of attention on the contents of awareness—is constituted by overlapping but distinct processes of consciousness and attention. This conscious attention likely evolved after the basic forms of attention, increasing access to the richest kinds of cognitive contents. Therefore, a focused examination of conscious attention should enable theoretical and empirical progress that will further our understanding of the human mind and help unify the study of consciousness and attention across the disciplines.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262013840
- eISBN:
- 9780262269438
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262013840.003.0009
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter focuses on the use of effortless attention in performing daily activities and tasks. It details a study developed by The University of Chicago and Claremont Graduate University, and ...
More
This chapter focuses on the use of effortless attention in performing daily activities and tasks. It details a study developed by The University of Chicago and Claremont Graduate University, and named the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to collect data from subjects of the study investigating the use of effortless attention in daily life. The findings are based on an ESM study of subjects consisting of middle and high school students from around the United States and the Sloan Study of Youth and Social Development. The Sloan study focuses on investigating both effortful and effortless attention experiences of the subjects. A large number of students reveal how effortless attention has helped them to focus better on several tasks without much effort.Less
This chapter focuses on the use of effortless attention in performing daily activities and tasks. It details a study developed by The University of Chicago and Claremont Graduate University, and named the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to collect data from subjects of the study investigating the use of effortless attention in daily life. The findings are based on an ESM study of subjects consisting of middle and high school students from around the United States and the Sloan Study of Youth and Social Development. The Sloan study focuses on investigating both effortful and effortless attention experiences of the subjects. A large number of students reveal how effortless attention has helped them to focus better on several tasks without much effort.
Edward Slingerland
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262013840
- eISBN:
- 9780262269438
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262013840.003.0013
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter reviews how human reasoning and decision making evolves from the cognitive sciences, challenging basic assumptions of objectivism-rationalism along with ethical models based on reason. ...
More
This chapter reviews how human reasoning and decision making evolves from the cognitive sciences, challenging basic assumptions of objectivism-rationalism along with ethical models based on reason. It emphasizes the significance of effortless attention in human reasoning and suggests that virtue ethics is preferable to authoritative thinking. By examining an early text from China, entitled “Analects of Confucius,” the chapter demonstrates how effortless attention and action can be developed and incorporated into moral behavior. This text is an important source of evidence regarding the earliest examples of virtue ethic in world literature. These findings also reveal the presence of different human thinking systems that work on implicit and explicit levels, with knowledge operating at the implicit level.Less
This chapter reviews how human reasoning and decision making evolves from the cognitive sciences, challenging basic assumptions of objectivism-rationalism along with ethical models based on reason. It emphasizes the significance of effortless attention in human reasoning and suggests that virtue ethics is preferable to authoritative thinking. By examining an early text from China, entitled “Analects of Confucius,” the chapter demonstrates how effortless attention and action can be developed and incorporated into moral behavior. This text is an important source of evidence regarding the earliest examples of virtue ethic in world literature. These findings also reveal the presence of different human thinking systems that work on implicit and explicit levels, with knowledge operating at the implicit level.
Arne Dietrich and Oliver Stoll
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262013840
- eISBN:
- 9780262269438
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262013840.003.0008
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter examines the relationships between effortless attention, reduced mental ability, and perfectionism. It examines the findings of earlier neuroscientific studies in this regard to ...
More
This chapter examines the relationships between effortless attention, reduced mental ability, and perfectionism. It examines the findings of earlier neuroscientific studies in this regard to understand neurocognitive mechanisms driving the autotelic experience or the flow state. This is required to understand the fact that two distinct information-processing systems operate in the brain, viz. the explicit system and the implicit system, where the flexibility-efficiency feature is applied to find a solution for the computational problem related to skilled motor performance. The chapter also describes the hypofrontality theory or the theory of reduced mental ability in the frontal cortex region and reveals that this deficiency results in the inability to differentiate between different emotions and control and the motor reflexes required for performing and controlling different tasks. Individuals suffering from this deficiency are unable to differentiate between awareness and action, with the added inability of sensing the significance of time.Less
This chapter examines the relationships between effortless attention, reduced mental ability, and perfectionism. It examines the findings of earlier neuroscientific studies in this regard to understand neurocognitive mechanisms driving the autotelic experience or the flow state. This is required to understand the fact that two distinct information-processing systems operate in the brain, viz. the explicit system and the implicit system, where the flexibility-efficiency feature is applied to find a solution for the computational problem related to skilled motor performance. The chapter also describes the hypofrontality theory or the theory of reduced mental ability in the frontal cortex region and reveals that this deficiency results in the inability to differentiate between different emotions and control and the motor reflexes required for performing and controlling different tasks. Individuals suffering from this deficiency are unable to differentiate between awareness and action, with the added inability of sensing the significance of time.
Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haroutioun Haladjian
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780262028974
- eISBN:
- 9780262327497
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262028974.003.0004
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
This chapter examines the theoretical possibility of having systematic forms of overlap between consciousness and attention—what has been termed ‘conscious attention.’ This is a possibility that is ...
More
This chapter examines the theoretical possibility of having systematic forms of overlap between consciousness and attention—what has been termed ‘conscious attention.’ This is a possibility that is compatible only with views that dissociate consciousness and attention, but without denying that they can overlap in regular ways. The views that preclude such an overlap are identity theories and full dissociation theories. For identity theories, by assumption, all forms of consciousness are automatically forms of attention. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there is no possible overlap between consciousness and attention for full dissociation theories; although they might seem to occur in tandem, such theories must claim that there are no systematic overlaps between them. In this chapter, several forms of conscious attention are described, including those related to phenomenal experiences, dreams, self-awareness, autobiographical memories, reflexive thoughts, epistemic seeing, and effortless attention. The chapter’s conclusion is that conscious attention is an important form of attention that requires further study and will ultimately help us better understand the purpose of consciousness.Less
This chapter examines the theoretical possibility of having systematic forms of overlap between consciousness and attention—what has been termed ‘conscious attention.’ This is a possibility that is compatible only with views that dissociate consciousness and attention, but without denying that they can overlap in regular ways. The views that preclude such an overlap are identity theories and full dissociation theories. For identity theories, by assumption, all forms of consciousness are automatically forms of attention. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there is no possible overlap between consciousness and attention for full dissociation theories; although they might seem to occur in tandem, such theories must claim that there are no systematic overlaps between them. In this chapter, several forms of conscious attention are described, including those related to phenomenal experiences, dreams, self-awareness, autobiographical memories, reflexive thoughts, epistemic seeing, and effortless attention. The chapter’s conclusion is that conscious attention is an important form of attention that requires further study and will ultimately help us better understand the purpose of consciousness.
