Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

What does the Treisman attenuation model of selective attention suggest?

1. All unattended information is ignored

2. Some unattended information can be detected but processed at a lower level

3. Attention is solely determined by volume

4. Attention can be redirected at will

The correct answer is: Some unattended information can be detected but processed at a lower level

The Treisman attenuation model of selective attention proposes that while individuals do focus on certain stimuli, not all information that is unattended is completely ignored. Instead, this model suggests that some unattended information can still be detected and processed, albeit at a lower priority or a reduced level of intensity compared to the attended stimuli. This means that certain salient features of the unattended information, especially if they are relevant or meaningful, can still be processed by the brain, even if they do not reach full conscious awareness. For instance, if a person is at a noisy party, they might not be actively listening to all conversations (unattended stimuli), yet they may still catch snippets of conversation or hear their name being mentioned. This illustrates how selective attention allows for some filtering while still permitting relevant information to be acknowledged. Thus, the model illuminates the nuanced way in which we engage with multiple stimuli in our environment, emphasizing that attention is not an all-or-nothing process.