attention capture

n. The reflexive allocation of a limited processing resource to an external stimulus, without the intent of the observer. Although attention restricts full processing to subsets of information from the outside world, attention capture provides a way for consistently important or potentially threatening aspects of the environment to become attended and provides a starting point for processing by highlighting salient stimuli. The stimulus could be an abrupt sound, your own name, an emotionally charged word, an unexpected touch, a strikingly unique object, a flashing light, or a sudden motion. These stimuli could trigger a reflexive shift of attention to an auditory location or frequency, a location on the body, a location or feature dimension in the visual world, or even a movement of the eyes, head, or body. Research on attention capture includes the types of stimuli that capture attention; the type of processing resources captured (e.g., awareness); the influence of context, top-down control, and individual differences; and applications to user interfaces and information displays.          -SF