Final answer:
The load theory of attention posits that people have a limited processing capacity when it comes to attention. Cognitive psychology studies how these limited resources influence our behavior and cognitive processes. Attentional demand affects energy expenditure in the brain and can alter our awareness of other stimuli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The load theory of attention is based on the assumption that people have limited processing capacity. Our cognitive system has a finite amount of attentional resources that can be distributed across tasks. When we engage in tasks that require high levels of attention, we consume more of these resources, which can increase energy demands on the brain, including greater blood flow to deliver more glucose and oxygen for mental activity. This principle is evident in the selective attention test by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, which demonstrates how our focused attention on one task can make us unaware of other stimuli.
Cognitive psychology, the study of human thinking and its relationship to behavior, suggests that attention is a limited resource. This theory is supported by the ways in which attention, cognition, and the arousal process in the brain are interconnected. External stimuli, like threat or novel information, can shift cognitive priorities and draw on the brain's attentional resources.
Cognitive learning is greatly dependent on these cognitive processes, including how we process sensory information and utilize memory. Furthermore, our cognitive capacity is influenced by a variety of factors, including hormonal states, sensory input, and cognitive processing performed by the brain, which actively determines our brain state.