Selective attention is the process of focusing on a particular stimulus while ignoring others in the surrounding environment. This concept was first introduced by psychologist William James in the late 19th century. One famous experiment that demonstrates selective attention is the invisible gorilla study conducted by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris in 1999. In this study, participants were asked to watch a video of people passing a basketball and count the number of passes. Surprisingly, many participants failed to notice a person in a gorilla suit walking through the scene, despite its obvious presence. This phenomenon is known as inattentional blindness, where the brain is so focused on one task that it fails to perceive other stimuli. Selective attention plays a crucial role in our ability to concentrate, make decisions, and filter out irrelevant information. Being aware of selective attention can help us understand how our minds work and improve our focus and concentration. By learning to manage our attention, we can enhance our cognitive abilities and become more efficient in our daily lives.