Question

Explain how selective attention works, based on Broadbent's Filter Model and Bottleneck's theory. Is there any research or evidence to support this theory? How do selective attention helps us to cancel out distractions?

Answer 1

Broadbent's Filter Model of Attention: Various information from the sensory stimuli which is presented, enters a sensory buffer. As, so much of input is presented, only one of the inputs is selected based on it s physical characteristics, and it is passed through a filter. The other inputs which were not selected and attended to, remain in the sensory buffer for some time, after which they are decayed.

The Bottleneck Theory of Attention: There are limited amounts of attentional capacity, which can be attended to, one at a time. We cannot attend to all the attentional stimuli which we are presented to us, as it would overload our attentional capacity. The bottleneck limits this information flow. Among the stimuli which is received, only the most important one chosen.

Yes, there has been research to support the theory. Research has shown that there is in fact an attentional filter, and information is selected on the basis of physical features.