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A review of neuropsychological and psychophysiological data on attention suggests that there are 3 separate, but interacting, neural systems: One controls arousal, which is defined in terms of phasic physiological responses to input. The arousal control circuits center on the amygdala. A 2nd system controls activation, which is defined in terms of tonic physiological readiness to respond. The readiness circuits center on the basal ganglia of the forebrain. A 3rd system is discerned which coordinates arousal and activation. This coordinating activity is defined as demanding effort. Its circuitry centers on the hippocampus. When arousal, activation, and effort are involved in problem solving, at least 2 further distinctions can be made. During categorizing, arousal precedes activation; during reasoning, activation precedes arousal. The question of whether effort in problem solving is to be attributed solely to peripheral muscular factors or whether direct monitoring of changes in brain organization can be productive of measurable indicators of effort is examined. (6 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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