Control of attention by the motor system: a motor bias theory of attention

人类必须以有限的认知资源处理大量的视觉信息。空间注意力使我们能够选择相关信息。注意力的比喻是聚光灯;只有在注意力光束内的东西才被处理。一种广泛持有的观点是，聚光灯的控制是由电机系统实现的。如果我们想关注某件事，我们会计划（但不一定要执行）一个动作，让眼睛或手指向那件事。注意力的前动机理论一直很有影响力，但并不能解释全部的经验数据。这个项目将测试一个新的注意力的运动偏差理论，它提供了一个新的解释运动控制和注意力之间的关系。具体而言，有人认为，运动准备影响注意力的随机方式，这样的注意力更有可能被分配到运动目标时，（a）同一目标被选择由一个以上的效应器系统，（B）的运动是接近被启动和（c）的有机体是有信心的运动将可靠地获得所需的目标。该项目旨在通过测试这些原则来精确描述注意力和运动系统之间的相互作用。了解注意力的心理学也将为注意力神经心理缺陷患者开发新的康复技术提供信息。

Humans must process an overwhelming amount of visual information with limited cognitive resources. Spatial attention allows us to select the relevant information. A metaphor for attention is that of a spotlight; only things within the beam of attention are processed. A widely held view is that control of the spotlight is implemented by the motor system. If we wish to attend to something, we plan (but do not necessarily execute) an action that would orient the eyes or hands to that thing. This Premotor-theory of attention has been very influential, but does not explain the full range of empirical data. This project will test a new Motor Bias theory of attention which offers a new explanation of the relationship between motor control and attention. Specifically, it is argued that movement preparation influences attention in a stochastic fashion, such that attention is more likely to be allocated to movement goals when (a) the same goal is being selected by more than one effector system, (b) the movement is close to being initiated and (c) the organism is confident that the movement will reliably acquire the desired target. The project aims to precisely characterise the interaction between attention and the motor system by testing these principles. Understanding the psychology of attention will also inform the development of novel rehabilitation techniques for patients with neuropsychological deficits of attention.