A new perspective on the perceptual selectivity of attention under load. (9th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giesbrecht, Barry; Sy, Jocelyn; Bundesen, Claus; Kyllingsbæk, Søren
• Other Names: Kingstone Alan guestEditor.; Miller Michael B. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1316(2014)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2014-04-09
• Subjects: selective attention -- visual attention -- load theory -- theory of visual attention -- perceptual selectivity -- distraction; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12404
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract : The human attention system helps us cope with a complex environment by supporting the selective processing of information relevant to our current goals. Understanding the perceptual, cognitive, and neural mechanisms that mediate selective attention is a core issue in cognitive neuroscience. One prominent model of selective attention, known as load theory, offers an account of how task demands determine when information is selected and an account of the efficiency of the selection process. However, load theory has several critical weaknesses that suggest that it is time for a new perspective. Here we review the strengths and weaknesses of load theory and offer an alternative biologically plausible computational account that is based on the neural theory of visual attention. We argue that this new perspective provides a detailed computational account of how bottom‐up and top‐down information is integrated to provide efficient attentional selection and allocation of perceptual processing resources.