Final answer:
Arousal is a state of attention influenced by hormones and cognitive processing. Moderate arousal is generally optimal for performance, as both low and high levels of arousal can impair performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arousal is a state of attention that is influenced by hormones, sensory information, and cognitive processing performed by the brain.
It determines the brain state and focuses cortical operations on processing new information.
The amygdala and other limbic structures mediate the fight-or-flight response, which is a dichotomy related to the processing of threats.
Optimal arousal is generally considered to be moderate, as both low and high levels of arousal can impair performance.
For example, extreme anxiety can hinder performance, while boredom and apathy can also lead to poor performance.
The complete question is: What is Arousal(state of attention)?