What is the term for the ability to selectively focus on certain stimuli when multiple stimuli are present?

Selective attention is the ability to focus on specific stimuli in the environment while ignoring others. This cognitive skill allows individuals to concentrate on what is most relevant or important at any given moment, such as listening to a lecture while disregarding background noise. Selective attention plays a crucial role in helping us navigate our complex surroundings by filtering out unnecessary information and enhancing our processing of pertinent details.

The other options pertain to different aspects of attention. Divided attention refers to the ability to process multiple streams of information simultaneously, rather than focusing on a single stimulus. Focused perception implies a heightened awareness of a particular stimulus, but does not specifically define the selective nature of attention. Multi-tasking is often used in a broader context to describe the practice of engaging in multiple tasks at once, but it doesn't encapsulate the focused aspect of managing attention among competing stimuli. Thus, selective attention precisely captures the concept of concentrating on a particular input while ignoring others.