What term is used for when too many cues compete for attention simultaneously?

The term that describes a situation where too many cues compete for attention simultaneously is best represented by "information saturation." In this state, an individual receives more information than they can effectively process, leading to difficulties in decision-making and confusion. Information saturation can occur in high-pressure environments, such as aerospace settings, where pilots may be bombarded with data from various sources, including instruments, communication channels, and visual stimuli.

Task overload is often related but specifically pertains to the demands of a given task exceeding an individual's capacity to manage them. Channelized attention refers to the focus on a specific source of information while filtering out others, which is not applicable when multiple cues are simultaneously demanding attention. Task saturation is a similar concept, but it focuses more on the limitations of resources and capabilities rather than the competition of multiple cues themselves. Therefore, information saturation accurately captures the phenomenon of competing cues for attention.