Attentional capture refers to the phenomenon where certain stimuli in the environment automatically draw our attention, often due to their salient features. This process happens involuntarily, meaning that our focus can be diverted away from a task or relevant information to these salient stimuli without conscious intention.
Example:
A common example of attentional capture can be observed when someone is reading a book, and a loud noise suddenly occurs, such as a car horn honking outside. Despite being focused on the text, the loud sound automatically captures the person's attention, causing them to momentarily look away from the book to identify the source of the noise. Other examples include brightly colored objects in a dull environment or sudden movements that distract from the original focal task.
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