DIRECTED ATTENTION Meaning and
Definition
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Directed attention refers to the cognitive process of intentionally focusing and concentrating on a specific task or stimulus while excluding other distractions or information that are not relevant to the current goal. It involves a conscious effort to allocate mental resources to the desired object of attention, enabling individuals to discriminate, process, and prioritize incoming sensory information, thoughts, or actions.
This cognitive function assists in regulating and controlling mental processes and plays a crucial role in everyday life, leading to effective problem-solving, decision-making, learning, and accomplishing tasks. Directed attention allows individuals to filter out irrelevant or less important information and maintain a sustained focus on relevant stimuli or goals, thereby enhancing information processing efficiency and attainments.
The directed attention mechanism involves the activation of certain areas in the brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex and the parietal lobe, which are responsible for working memory, executive functions, and selective attention. This process is influenced by internal factors such as motivation, goals, and preferences, as well as external factors including environmental cues and situational demands. Directed attention can vary in intensity and duration, with individuals capable of sustaining attention for different lengths of time depending on their level of cognitive control and mental stamina.
In summary, directed attention is the intentional cognitive process of focusing mental resources in a disciplined manner to selectively attend and process relevant information or stimuli, optimizing performance and facilitating successful goal attainment.
Common Misspellings for DIRECTED ATTENTION
- sirected attention
- xirected attention
- cirected attention
- firected attention
- rirected attention
- eirected attention
- durected attention
- djrected attention
- dkrected attention
- dorected attention
- d9rected attention
- d8rected attention
- dieected attention
- didected attention
- difected attention
- ditected attention
- di5ected attention
- di4ected attention
- dirwcted attention
- dirscted attention
Etymology of DIRECTED ATTENTION
The etymology of the phrase "directed attention" can be understood by examining the individual words that compose it:
1. "Direct" (adjective): This word comes from the Latin word "dirigere" meaning "to align, guide, or steer". It entered Middle English from Old French around the 14th century and evolved to its current meaning of "to manage, control, or give instructions".
2. "Attention" (noun): This word traces its roots back to the Latin word "attentio" meaning "attention, attentiveness". It entered Middle English from Old French in the late 14th century, carrying the meaning of "mental concentration or focused observation".
When the adjective "direct" is combined with the noun "attention", the resulting phrase "directed attention" suggests the act of purposefully guiding or focusing one's mental concentration or observation towards a particular subject or task.
