The selection of information according to relevance ensures that the objective is achieved, while preventing an overload of information. The success of selectivity relies on other types of mental activity such as inhibition mechanisms. In these cases, success is achieved if interest in the goal of the operation is sustained. The attractiveness of the goal can be measured in terms of its vital or amusing nature for the subject. Selecting a source of information or a task among a choice of several and maintaining interest over time in what has been selected gives attention a particular status among the superior functions of the brain.
Attention plays an important role in the management and control of information processing.
The aim of the project is to anticipate social demand to address hearing deficiency, a growing public health problem which is bound to become increasingly severe in the coming years. The research will focus on hearing behavior. The responses of the subjects will be assessed in terms of speed and accuracy. On a behavioral level, we will study the pertinence and the salience of one or more items of target information among items of non-target information. The type of stimulation will be one of the factors used to quantify and qualify attention.