What is the process called where attention adapts to a cue leading to inattention?

The process where attention adapts to a specific cue, leading to inattention, is known as habituation. Habituation refers to the psychological phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus results in a decrease in response or sensitivity to that stimulus over time. This can cause individuals to ignore certain cues that initially drew their attention, as the brain learns to prioritize new or more relevant information.

For instance, in a high-stimulation environment, you might initially notice the sound of a loud ongoing noise, but over time, if the noise remains constant, you may become less aware of it. This response allows the brain to conserve energy and focus on more pertinent changes in the environment, which is crucial in aviation and other high-stakes situations where attention management is vital.

The other options, while related to attention and perception in some way, do not specifically address the mechanism of reduced response to a familiar cue caused by repeated exposure as effectively as habituation does. Desensitization often refers more broadly to the reduction in emotional responses to a stimulus, adaptation is a more general term for adjusting to a new environment, and inattention represents a state rather than a process of adjustment to cues.