Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Automatic Information Processing

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning

Synonyms

Involuntary information processing

Definition

Automatic information processing refers to a mental cognitive process with the following characteristics: it is fast, parallel, efficient, requires little cognitive effort, and does not require active control or attention by the subject. This type of processing is the result of repetitive training on the same task. Once learned, an automatic response is difficult to suppress, modify, or ignore. Automatic information processing is used for skilled tasks and is considered to be the opposite process to controlled information processing.

Theoretical Background

During the 1950s the field of cognitive psychology focused on the capacity limits of human information processing, such as how the brain treats incoming information (stimuli). In 1958, the British psychologist Broadbent introduced a significant model of information processing and was one of the first to draw a distinction between automatic and controlled processes. Automatic...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 3,400.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 2,999.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Birnbom, S. (2003). The automatic and controlled information-processing dissociation: Is it still relevant? Neuropsychological Review, 13, 19–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent, D. E. (1958). Perception and communication. New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posner, M. I., & Snyder, C. R. (1975). Attention and cognitive control. In R. L. Solso (Ed.), Information processing and cognition: The Loyola symposium (pp. 55–85). Hillsdale, IN: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, W., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1977). Controlled ND automatic human information processing: Detection search and attention. Psychological Reviews, 84, 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Bergen, Jonas Liesv 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway

    Dr. Åsa Hammar

Authors
  1. Dr. Åsa Hammar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Åsa Hammar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Education, University of Freiburg, 79085, Freiburg, Germany

    Norbert M. Seel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Hammar, Å. (2012). Automatic Information Processing. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_494

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_494

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation