attentional capture

Attentional capture occurs when something in our environment suddenly draws our focus, even if we weren’t actively looking for it. This can be a loud noise, a bright color, or a sudden movement that momentarily diverts our attention away from what we were doing. It’s a natural response designed to alert us to important or potentially relevant stimuli, helping us stay aware of changes or threats in our surroundings. While often helpful, attentional capture can also be initiated by distractions, making it harder to concentrate on the task at hand.