Dr. Amishi Jha

And we can use various metaphors to describe what the brain does when we talk about this.

This particular way of paying attention, that's about prioritizing

inputs, selecting information and prioritizing that.

The metaphor I like to use is that it's like a flashlight.

So if you were in a darkened room, flashlight's a very handy tool.

Why?

Because wherever it is that that flashlight is directed toward, you get crisper, clearer information.

And that notion of advantaging perception through attention, very real.

We see that when we look at brain imaging studies, when we look at brainwave recordings.

Right now, for example, as I look at you, the parts of my brain that are doing face processing are more active because I'm getting the visual input from you.

And everything else around your face is a little dulled out.

I'm not getting strong input from that.

So the auditory input is...

going to be increased, and then everything else that follows from that.

So because you're honing in on certain words, your comprehension of those words is going to be better.

The thoughts that you have based on those words is going to be more fine-grained.

The memories that might get elicited by those words, everything else follows from the fact that you're getting this better input from what it is that you're paying attention to.

The flashlight, which is selective attention.

The floodlight, the alerting system.

And the juggler, which is executive functioning.