In our daily life we are bombarded with information. Every day we see thousands of images and hear thousands of sounds. This book examines how we make sense of this information and act upon it. It investigates how we are able to select some parts of the information but ignore others and then control our responses. Attention is a complex process that links with perception, memory, action and consciousness. This book begins by considering the processes of selective attention of auditory and visual information before going on to look at how this information is integrated and at cross modal effects. It then explores the attention processes involved in multi-tasking, in seemingly automatic responses to stimuli, and in the control of action. The final chapter considers the link between attention and conscious and unconscious processes and examines some research findings in attention that pose questions about the nature of consciousness.

This book is an up to date study of an important and fast developing area in psychology. Research into attention not only has significant implications for our understanding of cognition but also for our understanding of disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia. Using evidence from cognitive psychology, neuroscience and neuropsychology to explore current theories in attention, this accessible and engaging book is an ideal introductory text for undergraduate psychology students.