Master's student Haley Bennett employs eye-tracking and EEG methods to investigate how the brain prioritizes information amid distraction.
Our world is overflowing with distractions. From the constant ping of phone notifications to overlapping conversations and background noise, our brains are constantly deciding what to notice—and what to ignore. Haley Bennett, a master’s student in cognitive psychology, investigates how the brain makes these split-second decisions. Her research focuses on working memory, the brain’s “mental whiteboard” that temporarily stores information, helping us prioritize what matters and retain it.
“I’m fascinated by what happens after we first notice something,” Bennett says. “Once it disappears from view, how do we keep it in mind? How do we determine what’s important when our attention is limited?” She studies moments when information must be maintained in working memory, even as the brain filters distractions. Bennett is particularly interested in whether people revisit key mental locations and how interruptions can disrupt this process, offering insight into how attention and working memory work together.
Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences News.
Spotlight Recipient
Haley Bennett
Master's Student