Which cognitive process helps a traveler filter out lobby noise to focus on the concierge?

Selective attention is the cognitive process that enables individuals to focus on a specific stimulus while ignoring others. In the context of a traveler in a noisy lobby, selective attention allows them to concentrate on the concierge's voice despite the background noise. This process involves filtering out distractions and prioritizing information relevant to the task at hand, which, in this case, is the interaction with the concierge.

Selective attention is crucial in various environments, especially those with competing stimuli, as it helps in effectively processing the most important information without becoming overwhelmed by irrelevant sounds or distractions. This ability to hone in on a single source of information while ignoring others exemplifies how selective attention operates in everyday scenarios.