attentional processes

Attentional processes are the mental mechanisms that help us focus on specific information while filtering out distractions. They determine what we notice and prioritize in our environment, allowing us to concentrate on tasks, respond to important stimuli, and ignore irrelevant details. These processes involve both automatic attention, which happens quickly and without conscious effort, and controlled attention, which requires deliberate focus. Overall, attention helps us efficiently process the vast amount of information around us, guiding our actions and decisions in everyday life.