Attention & Consciousness

1. Attention is best defined as:
(A) The process of focusing mental resources on specific information
(B) The storage of sensory input
(C) Automatic motor response
(D) Consciousness of the self

2. Selective attention allows individuals to:
(A) Focus on one stimulus while ignoring others
(B) Attend to all stimuli equally
(C) Permanently block sensory input
(D) Improve long-term memory

3. The “cocktail party effect” is an example of:
(A) Selective attention
(B) Reflexive attention
(C) Divided attention
(D) Sustained attention

4. Divided attention refers to:
(A) Performing multiple tasks simultaneously
(B) Completely ignoring distractions
(C) Focus on a single stimulus
(D) Eliminating memory interference

5. Sustained attention is also called:
(A) Vigilance
(B) Reflexive response
(C) Divided processing
(D) Automatic attention

6. Which part of the brain is most associated with attention control?
(A) Prefrontal cortex
(B) Cerebellum
(C) Medulla
(D) Hippocampus

7. Broadbent’s filter model of attention suggests:
(A) Information is filtered early based on physical characteristics
(B) All input is processed fully
(C) Attention operates unconsciously only
(D) Memory controls perception

8. Treisman’s attenuation theory proposes that:
(A) Unattended information is weakened, not completely blocked
(B) Only attended stimuli are processed
(C) All sensory input is ignored
(D) Filtering happens at the response stage

9. The late selection model of attention argues that:
(A) All input is processed for meaning before selection occurs
(B) Filtering occurs only at sensory level
(C) Attention happens before recognition
(D) Consciousness is irrelevant

10. Automatic processing requires:
(A) Little or no conscious effort
(B) Full attention and awareness
(C) Constant vigilance
(D) Memory recall

11. Controlled processing is:
(A) Conscious, effortful, and slow
(B) Automatic and unconscious
(C) Reflexive only
(D) Always emotional

12. Change blindness refers to:
(A) Failure to notice changes in a visual scene
(B) Inability to perceive color
(C) Loss of motion perception
(D) Deficit in depth perception

13. Inattentional blindness occurs when:
(A) Attention is focused elsewhere and obvious stimuli are missed
(B) All stimuli are equally attended
(C) Memory blocks perception
(D) Consciousness is absent

14. Dual-task interference shows that:
(A) Performance decreases when multitasking
(B) Attention can be infinite
(C) Memory improves with multitasking
(D) Reflexes dominate attention

15. The Stroop effect demonstrates:
(A) Interference between automatic and controlled processes
(B) Reflexive attention control
(C) Memory-based filtering
(D) Visual illusions

16. Which neurotransmitter plays a key role in attention regulation?
(A) Acetylcholine
(B) Serotonin
(C) GABA
(D) Endorphins

17. Consciousness can be defined as:
(A) Awareness of oneself and the environment
(B) Automatic motor responses
(C) Subconscious processing only
(D) Memory consolidation

18. Phenomenal consciousness refers to:
(A) The subjective experience of awareness
(B) Behavioral response
(C) Reflex action
(D) Long-term memory

19. Access consciousness involves:
(A) Information available for reasoning and report
(B) Unconscious processing
(C) Reflexive attention only
(D) Random sensory input

20. The global workspace theory suggests:
(A) Consciousness arises when information is globally accessible in the brain
(B) Only unconscious processes exist
(C) Memory storage defines awareness
(D) Attention is unrelated to consciousness

21. Higher-order thought theory of consciousness claims:
(A) Awareness requires thoughts about mental states
(B) Reflexes create consciousness
(C) Sensation alone defines consciousness
(D) Memory is the only conscious state

22. Altered states of consciousness include:
(A) Sleep, hypnosis, and meditation
(B) Reflexive actions
(C) Automatic perception only
(D) Long-term memory recall

23. REM sleep is associated with:
(A) Dreaming and rapid eye movements
(B) Deep unconsciousness without dreams
(C) Reflexes only
(D) Absolute rest of brain activity

24. Circadian rhythms are regulated by:
(A) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
(B) Cerebellum
(C) Spinal cord
(D) Hippocampus

25. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by:
(A) Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity
(B) Enhanced selective attention
(C) Superior memory recall
(D) Total lack of consciousness

26. Consciousness of internal states is called:
(A) Introspective awareness
(B) Reflexive perception
(C) External vigilance
(D) Automatic processing

27. Mind wandering occurs when:
(A) Attention drifts away from task-related focus
(B) Consciousness is completely lost
(C) Reflexes dominate thought
(D) Only unconscious processes are active

28. Flow state is a form of:
(A) Deep focus and immersion in tasks
(B) Divided attention
(C) Memory loss
(D) Unconsciousness

29. Metacognition refers to:
(A) Thinking about one’s own thinking
(B) Reflexive behavior
(C) Automatic responses
(D) Subconscious memory

30. The orienting reflex is triggered by:
(A) Sudden or novel stimuli
(B) Familiar cues
(C) Memory recall
(D) Sleep cycles

31. Exogenous attention is:
(A) Stimulus-driven, automatic focus
(B) Goal-directed attention
(C) Conscious planning
(D) Memory-based focus

32. Endogenous attention is:
(A) Voluntary, goal-directed focus
(B) Automatic reflex
(C) Unconscious filtering
(D) Sensory adaptation

33. Hemispatial neglect is a disorder of:
(A) Attention to one side of space
(B) Memory recall
(C) Consciousness itself
(D) Hearing loss

34. Which brain area is critical for sustaining attention?
(A) Parietal cortex
(B) Hippocampus
(C) Medulla
(D) Amygdala

35. Consciousness during anesthesia is typically:
(A) Suppressed by reduced neural activity
(B) Enhanced reflexively
(C) Increased awareness
(D) Stronger divided attention

36. Lucid dreaming involves:
(A) Awareness of dreaming while in the dream
(B) Total unconsciousness
(C) Reflexes only
(D) Memory erasure

37. Blindsight occurs when:
(A) Individuals respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness
(B) Vision is fully intact
(C) Hearing replaces vision
(D) Reflexes fail

38. The hard problem of consciousness concerns:
(A) Explaining subjective experience (qualia)
(B) Explaining reflexes
(C) Memory consolidation
(D) Divided attention

39. The easy problems of consciousness involve:
(A) Cognitive functions like attention, memory, and perception
(B) Qualia only
(C) Metaphysical awareness
(D) Sleep cycles

40. Which level of consciousness includes automatic bodily processes like heartbeat?
(A) Non-conscious level
(B) Preconscious level
(C) Conscious level
(D) Metacognitive level

41. The preconscious level contains:
(A) Information not currently in awareness but retrievable
(B) Reflexes only
(C) Fully unconscious processes
(D) Metacognitive thoughts

42. Hypnosis is often described as:
(A) A state of heightened suggestibility
(B) Deep sleep
(C) Complete unconsciousness
(D) Divided attention

43. Meditation can alter consciousness by:
(A) Focusing attention and reducing external awareness
(B) Enhancing divided attention
(C) Removing memory traces
(D) Triggering reflexive responses

44. The default mode network (DMN) is active during:
(A) Rest and mind wandering
(B) Sustained attention
(C) Reflexive responses
(D) Sleep paralysis

45. Attention acts as a:
(A) Gateway to consciousness
(B) Replacement for memory
(C) Reflex suppression
(D) Unconscious filter only

46. Split-brain studies show that:
(A) Consciousness can be divided between hemispheres
(B) Reflexes dominate perception
(C) Only one hemisphere is conscious
(D) Memory disappears after surgery

47. Subliminal perception refers to:
(A) Processing stimuli below conscious awareness
(B) Reflexive awareness
(C) Automatic motor activity
(D) Dreaming awareness

48. Attention span refers to:
(A) The length of time focus can be maintained
(B) The number of tasks one can multitask
(C) Reflex duration
(D) Automatic memory recall

49. Conscious will is often debated as:
(A) Whether decisions are made consciously or unconsciously first
(B) Reflex control only
(C) Emotional dominance in thought
(D) Purely memory-based choices

50. Ultimately, attention and consciousness together allow:
(A) Focused awareness and meaningful interaction with the environment
(B) Elimination of sensory input
(C) Suppression of reflexes
(D) Automatic processing only