Processing Visual Information from Unattended Locations

小行星9512089 注意力是指我们用来分配稀缺的精神资源来处理我们认知系统的许多需求的手段。 现在已经很好地证明，对传入刺激的注意力可以提高对该材料的感知和记忆。 这项研究将探讨匡威的：当尽可能多的注意力分配给一个来源的传入信息，其他到达的信息是否得到任何处理？ 这个问题的答案目前还不清楚，但对认知理论具有重要意义。 答案也将提供设计认知和运动任务训练计划所需的关键信息。 这项研究将在视觉系统中探索这个问题。 一些字母将以圆形阵列的形式同时简要介绍。 在演示之前，注意力将被引导到阵列中的一个位置。 由于时间的安排使得眼睛无法移动，注意力的移动将是内在的。 控制条件将用于验证是否将尽可能多的注意力集中在提示位置。 大多数的决定都是关于提示位置上出现的字母，但偶尔会要求受试者对远处出现的字母做出一些简单的决定。 这项研究将询问这样的决策的准确性是否比纯粹猜测的准确性更高。 自动处理理论要求无人值守的信息接受处理，但迄今为止的研究，由于一些关键的缺陷，没有提供所需的证据。 这一系列研究旨在提供明确的答案。 它还将询问在这种无人值守的条件下处理什么类型的信息。 该研究项目的一个重要特点是开发注意力、自动处理及其关系的数学/模拟模型，扩展研究人员实验室已经B的研究。 ***

9512089 SHIFFRIN Attention refers to the means we use to allocate scarce mental resources to deal with the many demands upon our cognitive systems. It is now well established that attention applied to incoming stimuli improves perception and memory for that material. This research will explore the converse: When as much attention as possible is allocated to one source of incoming information, does other arriving information receive any processing whatever? The answer is not presently known, but has critical import for theories of cognition. The answer also will provide crucial information needed to design training programs for tasks with cognitive and motor components. The research will explore this issue within the visual system. A number of letters will be presented briefly and simultaneously in a circular array. Prior to presentation, attention will be directed to one position in the array. Since timing will be such that eyemovements cannot be made, movement of attention will be internal. Control conditions will be used to verify that as much attention as possible is directed to the cued position. Most decisions will be made about the letter presented at the cued location, but occasionally the subject will be asked to make some simple decision about the letter presented at a distant location. The research will ask whether the accuracy of such decisions is greater than what would be predicted from pure guessing. Theories of automatic processing mandate that unattended information receives processing, but research to date, because of some critical flaws, does not provide the needed evidence. This series of studies is designed to provide definitive answers. It will also ask what types of information get processed in such unattended conditions. An important feature of the research project will be the development of a mathematical/simulation model of attention, automatic processing, and their relationship, extending research that has already b egun in the investigators' laboratories. ***