RPT

Question 1

Recurrent Processing Theory

Answer 1

Takes distinction between feedforward and recurrent (re-entrant) processing as fundamental to understanding consciousness. It is the neural definition of consciousness, making distinction between attention and consciousness, and pehomenal and access consciousness

Question 2

Feedforward sweep

Answer 2

Unconscious, no integration on global level. Still active when anesthesized

Dichoptic masking
- abolishes contextual modulation, not feedforward signals
- In framework of importance of feedback processing, it supports the fact that the masked signal is not consciously seen. That’s only possible with feedback activity (consicous) and Feedforward always happens

Question 3

Recurrent processing

Answer 3

Phenomenal consciousness = what leads to consciousness
- Perceptual integration
- Raw experience of consciousness

Question 4

Global Ignition

Answer 4

Access consciousness, knowing, cognition
Important difference between GNWT; attention is seen as something fully independent to the feedforward/recurrent processing in the RPT

Attention equals depth of processing
- Acc to RPT, consciousness is equal to whether RP is occuring
- in GWNT, only the attended RP yields consciousness.

Question 5

Matacontrast masking in go nogo task

Answer 5

When cue (go or no go) is masked, the RT is slowed down in the unconscious no go task. The RT in the go task is faster

The Frontal activation correlated with the unconscious cue, and that activation was functional. The more activation, the better the inhibition

Question 6

Unconscious conflict detection

Answer 6

AFAP response to arrow going left or right, surrounding distractors make it a conflict. Seeing those conflicting arrows makes it more difficult

If those errors are masked, you see the same response, as well as frontal actiation.

Seen in more tasks, where your frontal area is active in unseen stimuli

Question 7

Orthogonality

Answer 7

Cognition and attention is independent. Strong evidence provided by experiments where unconscious stimuli showed clear activation of frontal regions

Combining different cognitive functions is however a lotmore difficult to do unconsciously