distractor

n. a stimulus or an aspect of a stimulus that is irrelevant to the task or activity being performed. In memory studies, an item or task may be used as a distractor before the participant attempts to recall the study material to be remembered; the distractor minimizes the participant’s rehearsal of the material and ensures that it is not currently stored in working memory. For instance, the participant might be given some arithmetic problems to solve as a distractor task between the study and recall phases of an experiment. See also visual attention.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic drug

any of a group of CNS depressants that have been developed for therapeutic use because of their calming effect (i.e., sedative) and ability to induce sleep (i.e., hypnotic) and reduce anxiety (i.e., anxiolytic). They include the barbiturates, meprobamate, and the benzodiazepines. At low doses, these drugs are prescribed for daytime use to reduce anxiety; at higher doses, many of the same drugs are prescribed as sleeping pills. Although efficacious when used sparingly, over the long term all induce marked tolerance, and cessation of use can precipitate potentially life-threatening withdrawal phenomena. Acute abuse can yield dangerous intoxication effects, and chronic abuse can cause a range of serious, irreversible conditions.