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MIXORA CONCEPT

Inattentional blindness

Failing to notice an unexpected visible event while attention is engaged elsewhere.

thoughtbridgeStrong evidence
IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

Looking toward something does not guarantee conscious notice. Task demands, expectations and similarity to attended objects all influence whether an unexpected event enters awareness.

What “Strong evidence” means

The core definition or effect is well established across authoritative standards, foundational research or a broad research literature. The label does not make every practical prediction certain.

Marker-board illustration created specifically to explain Inattentional blindness: Failing to notice an unexpected visible event while attention is engaged elsewhere.VISUAL EXPLANATION · MARKER BOARD
Failing to notice an unexpected visible event while attention is engaged elsewhere.
EXAMPLE

A person counting passes can miss an unusual figure crossing the scene.

COMMON CONFUSION

The event can be fully visible to the eyes while still not being consciously noticed.

ASK YOURSELF

What task was consuming attention when the supposedly obvious detail appeared?

RELATED CONCEPTS
thought × bridgeAttention

Selective prioritization of some information for processing or action.

→thought × bridgeWorking memory

A limited system for temporarily holding and manipulating information needed for an ongoing task.

→color × thought × bridgePerception

Processes through which sensory information becomes an experienced and usable representation of the world.

→thought × bridgeCognitive load

The demand a task places on limited mental processing and working-memory resources.

→

SOURCES & TRUST

References

Last reviewed

  1. 01
    Gorillas in Our Midst

    Daniel J. Simons & Christopher F. Chabris · 1999 · Perception

    Experimental demonstration of failures to notice an unexpected event during a demanding attention task.
    Academic source
What the source labels mean
Primary source
Original work, experiment, standard or historical text.
Academic source
Scholarly research or review published for an academic audience.
Reference source
An expert standard, encyclopedia or institutional explanation that summarizes a field.
General reference
A practical specialist resource useful for application, but not treated as decisive research by itself.