Neural mechanisms of attention

Question 1

bottom up attention

Answer 1

external factors

Perceptual properties of items determine the strength of competition - Woke him up - Stimulus driven.

Question 2

top down attention

Answer 2

Other factors can determine ease of access into consciousness.

Personal relevance

Emotional significance

Goal relevance

Semantic relevance.

These factors are not properties of stimuli themselves but are defined by the observer’s relationship with the stimulus – top-down attention.

Question 3

attention - neuronally

Answer 3

Top down bias signals from Pfc to century processing areas enhance firing rates of neurons that process task relevant inputs.

Items compete for limited neuronal processing resources.

Enhanced processing of task. Relevant information spreads across whole objects.

Competition occurs in all brain regions involved in sensory processing.

Selection occurs via synchronization of neuronal firing across brain regions.