You are at a playground with your little brother, and you hear a child yell, "Mom!" You notice a dozen women pause in their conversations, turning their heads to see if it was their child calling for them. This is an example of ______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the cocktail party effect, which is the ability to selectively attend to a single voice or conversation amidst a crowded and noisy environment. It is similar to being in a room with multiple conversations and suddenly hearing your name being mentioned in one of them, causing you to shift your attention to that conversation. In this case, the child's voice calling out "Mom" caught the attention of the women, who were all able to differentiate that it was not their own child calling for them.

You Are at a Playground with Your Little Brother, and You