The Breadth of Visual Attention

This Element provides critical insights on current science and practical recommendations for future work on the breadth of visual attention.

Stephanie C. Goodhew (Author)

9781108796217, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 June 2020

75 pages
23 x 15.3 x 0.4 cm, 0.02 kg

Humans can focus their attention narrowly (e.g., to read this text) or broadly (e.g., to determine which way a large crowd of people are moving). This Element comprehensively considers attentional breadth. Section 1 introduces the concept of attentional breadth, while Section 2 considers measures of attentional breadth. In particular, this section provides a critical discussion of the types of psychometric evidence which should be sought to establish the validity of measures of attentional breadth and reviews the available evidence through this lens. Section 3 considers the visual task performance consequences of attentional breadth, including prescribing several key methodological criteria that studies that manipulate attentional breadth need to meet, as well as a discussion of relevant theories and avenues for future theoretical development. Section 4 discusses the utility of the exogenous–endogenous distinction from covert shifts of attention for understanding the performance consequences of attentional breadth. Finally, Section 5 provides concluding remarks.

1. Introduction to attentional breadth
2. Measuring attentional breadth
3. Manipulating attentional breadth and understanding its impact on performance
4. Exogenous versus endogenous attention and how it relates to attentional breadth
5. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Physiological & neuro-psychology, biopsychology [JMM]