Background
Our brains are effective after selecting specific information for processing. Attention has several instances that include selective and reflexive attention. Selective attention prioritizes detailed information over others, and visual stimuli in the fringes spark reflexive attention (Banich & Compton, 2018). The eyes’ adjusting to lighting in the dark is reflexive attention, and focusing on a specific goal is an example of selective attention.
Hemispatial neglect
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) characterizes attention deficit as a pattern of forgetfulness. An individual suffers from hemineglect when they refrain from paying attention to a side of their space. Hemispatial neglect commonly occurs as an attentional malfunction (Banich & Compton, 2018). It is for this reason that hemineglect is considered an attention deficit.
Dividing Attention
It is possible through multitasking to split attention between tasks. Banich and Compton (2018) opine that having a conversation with someone while driving is a form of divided attention. On the other hand, it is problematic to split attention when both stimuli rely on similar resources, like conversing with two individuals concurrently.
Processing a Stimuli
Overlapping regions of the brain cater to different stimuli, and the process is complicated. Banich and Compton (2018) mention that linking a particular function to a specific brain region is demanding. The frontal lobe has a crucial duty in cognitive control as they are dire in automatic and controlled processing.
Automatic and Controlled Processing
Automatic processing is enabled by contention scheduling, while the supervisory attentional system is responsible for controlled processing. Automatic processing occurs with processes learned over time, for example, stepping on the brake pedal after seeing a red traffic light. Controlled processing is active only in certain instances, for example, when a task is complicated.
Reference
Banich, M. T., & Compton, R. J. (2018). Cognitive neuroscience. Cambridge University Press.