ABSTRACT
We are constantly bombarded with stimuli of all sorts: an ever-changing visual scene, numerous sounds, tastes, smells and even the touch of our clothes. Yet although there is a mass of stimuli around us we are usually only aware of a small fraction of it. Try sitting quietly and try to take note of all the sounds that you can hear. Did you notice any that you were not aware of a few minutes ago? We are able to select some information whilst apparently ignoring the rest. For example, we can listen to one person in a crowded room but ignore the hubbub of conversation around us. This ability is referred to as focused (or selective) attention.
