voluntary attention

attention that is deliberately applied and controlled by the individual, as opposed to attention that is spontaneously captured by a stimulus in the environment. Brain-activation studies have investigated the extent to which voluntary and involuntary attention are controlled by separate neural systems. Also called endogenous attention. Compare postvoluntary attention. See also secondary attention.

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Psychology term of the day

January 12th 2025

inferior colliculus

either of the caudal pair of colliculi. They receive and process auditory nerve impulses and relay these to the medial geniculate nuclei.