Biomaterial Database

Sensation seeking and selective attention: focused and divided attention on a dichotic listening task. 1992

S A Ball, and M Zuckerman

Department of Psychiatry, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut 06519.

Differences in selective attention as a function of sensation seeking, extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism were examined in 108 undergraduates using a dichotic listening task. Dependent measures included shadowing performance, reaction times to a secondary light task, target detection, and recall. The results suggested that high sensation seekers have better focused attention than low sensation seekers, and these effects were strongest on the 1st trials of the shadowing tasks. High sensation seekers did not attend differently than low sensation seekers to words related to their interests (sexual, violent, or drug related). Extraversion was associated with greater recall of these kinds of words, although there were no overall differences in selective attention as a function of Eysenck's dimensions. The role of arousal in personality and attention is discussed, particularly in regard to the response of sensation seekers to task novelty.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007439	Introversion, Psychological	A state in which attention is largely directed inward upon one's self.	Introversion (Psychology),Introversion, Psychology,Introversion,Psychological Introversion,Psychology Introversion
D008297	Male		Males
D004007	Dichotic Listening Tests	Tests for central hearing disorders based on the competing message technique (binaural separation).	Dichotic Listening Test,Listening Test, Dichotic,Listening Tests, Dichotic,Test, Dichotic Listening,Tests, Dichotic Listening
D005106	Exploratory Behavior	The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity.	Curiosity,Novelty-Seeking Behavior,Behavior, Exploratory,Behavior, Novelty-Seeking,Behaviors, Exploratory,Behaviors, Novelty-Seeking,Curiosities,Exploratory Behaviors,Novelty Seeking Behavior,Novelty-Seeking Behaviors
D005120	Extraversion, Psychological	A state in which attention is largely directed outward from the self.	Extraversion (Psychology),Extraversion, Psychology,Extroversion, Psychological,Extroversion, Psychology,Extraversion,Extroversion,Extroversion (Psychology),Psychological Extraversion,Psychological Extroversion,Psychology Extraversion,Psychology Extraversions,Psychology Extroversion
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001143	Arousal	Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system.	Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D013647	Task Performance and Analysis	The detailed examination of observable activity or behavior associated with the execution or completion of a required function or unit of work.	Critical Incident Technique,Critical Incident Technic,Task Performance,Task Performance, Analysis,Critical Incident Technics,Critical Incident Techniques,Incident Technic, Critical,Incident Technics, Critical,Incident Technique, Critical,Incident Techniques, Critical,Performance, Analysis Task,Performance, Task,Performances, Analysis Task,Performances, Task,Task Performances,Task Performances, Analysis,Technic, Critical Incident,Technics, Critical Incident,Technique, Critical Incident,Techniques, Critical Incident