Attention is a fundamental cognitive process that allows individuals to selectively focus on certain information while filtering out distractions. Covert attention represents a subtle yet powerful form of mental focus. It enables us to direct our awareness to specific stimuli without any outward indication. This ability plays a continuous role in how we gather information from the world around us.
What Covert Attention Is
Covert attention involves directing mental focus to a stimulus without making any observable eye movements or head turns. This differs from overt attention, where individuals physically orient their eyes or body towards what they are focusing on. For instance, when you read a book, your eyes move across the words, demonstrating overt attention. Conversely, covert attention allows you to mentally process information from a different location in your visual field while your eyes remain fixed.
Imagine staring straight ahead in a crowded room, yet mentally tracking a conversation happening to your side. Your eyes are fixed, but your attention is elsewhere. This invisible shift of focus allows for efficient information gathering.
How the Brain Directs Covert Attention
The brain actively manages covert attention through the coordinated activity of specific neural networks. Areas within the parietal and frontal cortices are particularly involved in this process. These regions work together to prioritize and enhance the processing of information from locations not directly fixated by the eyes.
The frontal eye fields (FEF) and the lateral intraparietal (LIP) area are key regions that control attention and eye movements. These areas provide a “priority signal” that guides attention. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies show an overlap in brain regions activated during both covert and overt shifts of attention, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms.
Everyday Use of Covert Attention
Covert attention is used in everyday situations, often without conscious awareness. One common example is eavesdropping on a conversation in a public space without overtly looking at the speakers. You might maintain eye contact with a friend while simultaneously processing what someone else is saying nearby. This allows for subtle information gathering in social contexts.
Another instance occurs when scanning a busy environment, like a train station, for a specific person. You might keep your gaze relatively stable while your mental focus rapidly shifts across different areas, searching for a familiar face. In sports, a basketball player might look in one direction to mislead opponents while covertly attending to a teammate in a different area of the court before making a pass. This demonstrates how covert attention is used to process multiple pieces of information and make quick decisions.
Investigating Covert Attention
Scientists study covert attention using methods like the Posner cueing task. Developed by Michael Posner, this neuropsychological test assesses an individual’s ability to shift attention mentally. In a typical setup, participants fixate on a central point on a screen, with two boxes to the left and right.
A cue, such as an arrow, is briefly presented, indicating where a target stimulus will likely appear. Participants are instructed to maintain their gaze on the central point and respond when the target appears. Researchers measure response times, which are faster when the target appears at the cued location (valid trials) compared to uncued locations (invalid trials), even without eye movement. This difference in reaction time provides insight into how attention is covertly oriented and its impact on processing efficiency.