Filter Theory

Filter Theory explains how we focus our attention on relevant information while ignoring distractions. In everyday life, our brains act like filters, selecting important sounds or sights—like paying attention to a conversation in a noisy room—by filtering out less relevant stimuli. This process involves multiple stages, starting with sensing everything around us, then prioritizing certain inputs based on factors like importance or familiarity, and finally focusing awareness on the selected information. Essentially, our cognitive "filter" helps us concentrate on what matters most, preventing overload from the multitude of sensory inputs we experience constantly.