The effect of stress on selective and focused visual attentions and learning

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Abstract

It is obvious that attention is necessary for learning and if it is impacted by stress learning would be impaired. To show this negative effect a group of 40 male students were randomly selected and then assigned to two equal size groups of control and experimental. The treatment consisted of doing cognitively stressful tasks. Both groups' selective and focused visual attentions were measured following the treatment. The number of errors made by the experimental group in counting and categorizing stimuli was significantly higher than those committed by the control group. Hence, it can be said that stress reduces attention and subsequently learning.

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