392 • GlossaryAttenuation theory of attention Anne Treisman’s model of selective attention that proposes
that selection occurs in two stages. In the first stage, an attenuator analyzes the incoming
message and lets through the attended message—and also the unattended message, but at a
lower (attenuated) strength. (4)
Attenuator In Treisman’s model of selective attention, the attenuator analyzes the incoming
message in terms of physical characteristics, language, and meaning. Attended messages pass
through the attenuator at full strength, and unattended messages pass though with reduced
strength. (4)
Audiovisual mirror neuron Neuron in the monkey premotor cortex that responds when a
monkey performs an action and also when it hears the sound associated with this action (for
example, the action associated with breaking a peanut, and the associated sound). Also seeMirror Drawing
Auditory coding Representation of the sound of a stimulus in the mind. (5)
Autism A developmental disorder in which one of the major symptoms is withdrawal of
contact from other people. People with autism often direct their attention differently from
people without autism. (4)
Autobiographical memory (AM) Memory for dated events in a person’s life. Autobiographical
memory is usually considered to be a type of episodic memory, but has also been defined as
including personal semantic memories. (8)
Automatic processing Processing that occurs automatically, without the person intending to
do it, and that also uses few cognitive resources. Automatic processing is associated with
easy or well-practiced tasks. (4)
Availability heuristic Basing judgments of the frequency of events on what events come to
mind. (13)
Axon Part of the neuron that transmits signals from the cell body to the synapse at the end of
the axon. (2)Back propagation A process by which learning can occur in a connectionist network, in which
an error signal is transmitted backward through the network. This backward-transmitted
error signal provides the information needed to adjust the weights in the network to achieve
the correct output signal for a stimulus. (9)
Balint’s syndrome A condition caused by brain damage in which a person has difficulty
focusing attention on individual objects. (4)
Base rate The relative proportions of different classes in a population. Failure to consider base
rates can often lead to errors of reasoning. (13)
Basic level In Rosch’s categorization scheme, the level below the global (superordinate) level
(e.g., “table” or “chair” for the superordinate category “furniture”). According to Rosch,
the basic level is psychologically special because it is the level above which much informa-
tion is lost and below which little is gained. See also Global (superordinate) level; Specific
(subordinate) level. (9)
Behavioral approach Studying the mind by measuring a person’s behavior and explaining this
behavior in behavioral terms. (1)
Behaviorism The approach to psychology, founded by John B. Watson, which states that
observable behavior provides the only valid data for psychology. A consequence of this idea
is that consciousness and unobservable mental processes are not considered worthy of study
by psychologists. (1)
Bottleneck model Model of attention that proposes that incoming information is restricted
at some point in processing, so only a portion of the information gets through to conscious-
ness. Broadbent’s model of attention is an example of a bottleneck model. (4)
Bottom-up processing Processing that starts with information received by the receptors. This
type of processing can also be called data-based processing. (3)
Brain ablation A procedure in which a specific area is removed from an animal’s brain. It is
usually done to determine the function of this area by assessing the effect on the animal’s
behavior. (3)
Brain imaging Techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and
positron emission tomography (PET) that result in images of the brain that represent
brain activity. In cognitive psychology, activity is measured in response to specific
cognitive tasks. (2)33559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 39233559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 392 13/04/10 5:47 PM13/04/10 5:47 PM
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