Attention distribution as a function of novelty and familiarity

Harwitz

1969

Self Cite

Hhile it is appealing to theorize about a two-stage process of attending, having both separate and ordered focusing and elaborating aspects, the following discussion will attempt to show the weakness of this theory and at the same time offer an alternative approach whereby both focusing and elaborating are under the service of cognitive variables. To accomplish this it is first necessary to discuss (1) the issue of the definition of a "new" stimulus event, and (2) the inherent difficulties in a simple matching process. Once having shown that what has been considered to be an OR varies as a function of some cognitive principle(s) an alternative model for attending to stimulus events will be offered. Finally an experiment will be presented which demonstrates an OR hierarchy comparable to hierarchies of concept formation attainment in the same age child. Specifically a redundant visual signal is followed by 4 variations of that signal; changes in color, size, number and rotation. The results, accounting for both discriminability and intrinsic value demonstrate a hierarchy of stimulus salience. This hierarchy of color, size, number and rotation is consistent with concept formation acquisition and these results are used to argue for the proposed model of attending which emphasized the need to consider cognitive principles in understanding an OR. [organism] so that perception of the stimulus takes place in the most favorable conditions." According to these theorists the orienting reflex differs from other behaviors, such as exploratory behavior, in that it is not involved in the elaboration or perception of the stimulus but only in the tuning or focusing of the organism's analyzers to be able to perceive or elaborate.Thus, the orienting reflex occurs temporally prior to any behavior associated with elaboration. It is possible, therefore, for an organism to exhibit an orienting reflex and no further elaboration or perception, but it is not possible to elaborate without first haVing exhibited an orienting reflex.The definition of which responses constitute an orienting reflex and which constitute elaboration is still being investigated using heart rate deceleration, vasodilation and constriction, respiration, GSR, activity, orientation of the receptor, and many other responses as indices of an orienting reflex. 2Another characteristic of this tuning process or reflex is its habituation when a stimulus event is repeated, and its reappearance when a new event is presented. Sokolov (1963) has offered a theory for explaining this reflex in terms of a matching procedure whereby a new event is matched against an internal representation (called a neuronal model) within the organism.-2-Mismatch produces excitation and an orienting reflex, while match produces inhibition and an absence of the reflex.In the following discussion, issues will be raised which bring into question the notion that focusing the analyzers precedes elaboration or perception of the stimulus event. This notion will be questioned by attempting to dem...

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All showed response recovery to a less intense altered event, satisfying the criteria of an OR. Lewis et al, 1967) were employed.…”

Section: General Model For Investigating or Hierarchiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Meaning of an Orienting Response: A Study in the Hierarchical Order of Attending1

Harwitz

1969

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“…It is known, for example, that the OR is affected by changes in terms of intensity (Bernstein, 196,;Zimmy & Schwabe, 1965). Results reported by Lewis, -2- Goldberg, and Rausch (1967) suggest that factors independent of intensity, such as color and content changes, can influence the magnitude of the OR.…”

Section: The Magnitude Of the Orienting Response In Children As A Funmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Magnitude of the Orienting Response in Children as a Function of Changes in Color and Contour1

Dodd

1969

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To investigate the effects of various changes on the magnitude of the OR, two pairs of stimuli were used such that for each pair, each stimulus served as the repeated event for one group of Ss and as the altered event for another. It was predicted that stimulus change resulting in increased stimulus intensity would result in a larger OR than stimulus change resulting in decreased intensity. Chromatic and achromatic stimuli were used to test this hypothesis and the results confirmed this notion. The second set of stimuli, varying in contour, tested the hypothesis that changes independent of intensity should affect OR magnitude. The results support this view and suggest that the salience of the change in terms of the organism's hierarchy of interest must be included in a complete analysis of the magnitude of an OR.

Perceptual‐cognitive Development in Infancy: A Generalized Expectancy Model as a Function of the Mother‐infant Interaction1

Goldberg

1968

105

155

The present paper concerns itself with the various aspects of the mother‐infant interaction. While amount and variety of stimulation are recognized as important parameters influencing development, the argument is made that a contingency relationship resulting in a generalized expectancy on the part of the infant is, by far, more important. Briefly, if the mother responds consistently and with short latencies she helps develop within the infant an expectation that his action can be effective in influencing his environment. This expectation, as a generalized expectancy, provides the motivation for additional environmental interaction and cognitive development. Data from a study of mother‐infant interaction and tests of cognitive development at three months support this hypothesis.