Description: Attention is critical to our daily lives, from simple acts of reading or listening to a conversation to the more demanding situations of trying to concentrate in a noisy environment or driving on a busy roadway. This book offers a concise introduction to the science of attention, featuring real-world examples and fascinating studies of clinical disorders and brain injuries. It introduces cognitive neuroscience methods and covers the different types and core processes of attention. The links between attention, perception, and action are explained, along with exciting new insights into the brain mechanisms of attention revealed by cutting-edge research. Learning tools - including an extensive glossary, chapter reviews, and suggestions for further reading - highlight key points and provide a scaffolding for use in courses. This book is ideally suited for graduate or advanced undergraduate students as well as for anyone interested in the role attention plays in our lives.
Brief description: Joseph B. Hopfinger is a Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Cognitive Neuroscience. He has also received the Brain Research Young Investigator Award.