Which term describes a situation where less noticeable stimuli are ignored due to the presence of more salient stimuli?

The term that describes a situation where less noticeable stimuli are ignored because of the presence of more prominent or salient stimuli is overshadowing. This phenomenon occurs when two stimuli are presented together, but one is significantly more noticeable than the other. As a result, the stronger or more salient stimulus captures the focus of attention, while the less salient stimulus becomes less effective in evoking a response.

In training scenarios, if a dog is exposed to a highly exciting noise (the salient stimulus) while also being exposed to a quieter sound (the less noticeable stimulus), the dog will likely respond to the louder noise and may not react to the quieter sound at all. Thus, overshadowing demonstrates the influence of relative salience on learning and perception, indicating that attention can be diverted away from less noticeable stimuli when a more captivating stimulus is present.

This concept is crucial in understanding how animals, including dogs, learn in an environment filled with multiple competing stimuli, which can inform training techniques and strategies.