Perception and Attention

The relation between perception and attention is discussed, via a taxonomy of attentioncentered around function. Five kinds are distinguished. The first is sampling, involving thepickup of information by the eye. Second is filtering (or gating), the control of informationconsidered relevant. The third is binding, involving the formation of more integrated structureover space. Fourth is holding, which creates the coherent structure necessary to perceivecontinuity over time. Fifth is indexing, which enables individuation of selected items. Thefunction of each is discussed, along with several associated behavioral effects and perceptualdeficits, the mechanisms believed to carry it out, and possible relation to conscious visualexperience. Discussion is also given of the implicit processing carried out both prior to andindependent of any kind of attention, in the complete absence of conscious visual experience. Key wordsattention, awareness, binding, change blindness, consciousness, implicit perception, inattentionalblindness, selection, taxonomy, tracking