Dividing attention increases operational momentum

When adding or subtracting two quantities, adults often compute an estimated outcome that is larger or smaller, respectively, than the actual outcome, a bias referred to as “operational momentum”. The effects of attention on operational momentum were investigated. Participants viewed a display in which two arrays of objects were added, or one array was subtracted from another array, and judged whether a subsequent outcome (probe) array contained the correct or incorrect number of objects. In a baseline condition, only the arrays to be added or subtracted were viewed. In divided attention conditions, participants simultaneously viewed a sequence of colors or shapes, and judged which color (a non-spatial judgment) or shape (a spatial judgment) was repeated. Operational momentum occurred in all conditions, but was higher in divided attention conditions than in the baseline condition, primarily for addition problems. This pattern suggests that dividing attention, rather than decreasing operational momentum by decreasing attentional shifts, actually increased operational momentum. These results are consistent with a heightened use of arithmetic heuristics under conditions of divided attention.

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A role for attentional reorienting during approximate multiplication and division

Journal of Numerical Cognition ◽

10.5964/jnc.v3i2.62 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 246-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Curren Katz ◽

Hannes Hoesterey ◽

André Knops

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Processes ◽

Incorrect Response ◽

Number Representation ◽

Momentum Effect ◽

Division Problems ◽

Operational Momentum ◽

Response Alternatives ◽

Attentional Shifts ◽

Fact Retrieval ◽

Subsequent Target

When asked to estimate the outcome of arithmetic problems, participants overestimate for addition problems and underestimate for subtraction problems, both in symbolic and non-symbolic format. This bias is referred to as operational momentum effect (OM). The attentional shifts account holds that during computation of the outcome participants are propelled too far along a spatial number representation. OM was observed in non-symbolic multiplication and division while being absent in symbolic multiplication and division. Here, we investigate whether (a) the absence of the OM in symbolic multiplication and division was due to the presentation of the correct outcome amongst the response alternatives, putatively triggering verbally mediated fact retrieval, and whether (b) OM is correlated with attentional parameters, as stipulated by the attentional account. Participants were presented with symbolic and non-symbolic multiplication and division problems. Among seven incorrect response alternatives participants selected the most plausible result. Participants were also presented with a Posner task, with valid (70%), invalid (15%) and neutral (15%) cues pointing to the position at which a subsequent target would appear. While no OM was observed in symbolic format, non-symbolic problems were subject to OM. The non-symbolic OM was positively correlated with reorienting after invalid cues. These results provide further evidence for a functional association between spatial attention and approximate arithmetic, as stipulated by the attentional shifts account of OM. They also suggest that the cognitive processes underlying multiplication and division are less prone to spatial biases compared to addition and subtraction, further underlining the involvement of differential cognitive processes.

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Pain Influences Several Levels of Attention

Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie ◽

10.1024/1016-264x.16.4.235 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 235-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Astrid von Bueren Jarchow ◽

Bogdan P. Radanov ◽

Lutz Jäncke

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Divided Attention ◽

Covert Attention ◽

Attention Task ◽

Attentional Deficits ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Chronic Pain Patients ◽

Divided Attention Task ◽

Pain Stimuli ◽

Pain Patients

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent chronic pain has an impact on various attentional processes. To measure these attention processes a set of experimental standard tests of the “Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung” (TAP), a neuropsychological battery testing different levels of attention, were used: alertness, divided attention, covert attention, vigilance, visual search, and Go-NoGo tasks. 24 chronic outpatients and 24 well-matched healthy control subjects were tested. The control subjects were matched for age, gender, and education. The group of chronic pain patients exhibited marked deficiencies in all attentional functions except for the divided attention task. Thus, the data supports the notion that chronic pain negatively influences attention because pain patients` attention is strongly captivated by the internal pain stimuli. Only the more demanding divided attention task has the capability to distract the focus of attention to the pain stimuli. Therefore, the pain patients are capable of performing within normal limits. Based on these findings chronic pain patients' attentional deficits should be appropriately evaluated and considered for insurance and work related matters. The effect of a successful distraction away from the pain in the divided attention task can also open new therapeutic aspects.

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Specific Computerized Attention Training in Stroke and Traumatic Brain-Injured Patients

Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie ◽

10.1024/1016-264x.14.4.283 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 283-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

W. Sturm ◽

B. Fimm ◽

A. Cantagallo ◽

N. Cremel ◽

P. North ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Divided Attention ◽

Single Case ◽

Baseline Period ◽

Specific Training ◽

Attention Task ◽

Baseline Phase ◽

Computerized Training ◽

Brain Injured ◽

Divided Attention Task ◽

Injured Patients

Abstract: In a multicenter European approach, the efficacy of the AIXTENT computerized training programs for intensity aspects (alertness and vigilance) and selectivity aspects (selective and divided attention) of attention was studied in 33 patients with brain damage of vascular and traumatic etiology. Each patient received training in one of two most impaired of the four attention domains. Control tests were performed by means of a standardized computerized attention test battery (TAP) comprising tests for the four attention functions. Assessment was carried out at the beginning and at the end of a four week baseline period and after the training period of 14 one-hour sessions. At the end of the baseline phase, there was only slight but significant improvement for the most complex attention function, divided attention (number of omissions). After the training, there were significant specific training effects for both intensity aspects (alertness and vigilance) and also for the number of omissions in the divided attention task. The application of inferential single case procedures revealed a high number of significant improvements in individual cases after specific training of alertness and vigilance problems. On the other hand, a non specific training addressing selectivity aspects of attention lead either to improvement or deterioration of alertness and vigilance performance. The results corroborate the findings of former studies with the same training instrument but in patients with different lesion etiologies.

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Stepping in the Shoes of Leaders of Populist Right-Wing Parties

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000289 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 40-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jolanda Jetten ◽

Rachel Ryan ◽

Frank Mols

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Growth Condition ◽

Baseline Condition ◽

Right Wing ◽

Economic Context

Abstract. What narrative is deemed most compelling to justify anti-immigrant sentiments when a country’s economy is not a cause for concern? We predicted that flourishing economies constrain the viability of realistic threat arguments. We found support for this prediction in an experiment in which participants were asked to take on the role of speechwriter for a leader with an anti-immigrant message (N = 75). As predicted, a greater percentage of realistic threat arguments and fewer symbolic threat arguments were generated in a condition in which the economy was expected to decline than when it was expected to grow or a baseline condition. Perhaps more interesting, in the economic growth condition, the percentage realistic entitlements and symbolic threat arguments generated were higher than when the economy was declining. We conclude that threat narratives to provide a legitimizing discourse for anti-immigrant sentiments are tailored to the economic context.

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