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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

February 15th 2025

distal stimulus

distal stimulus

in perception, the actual object in the environment that stimulates or acts on a sense organ. Compare proximal stimulus.