Visibility or Disability: Notes on Attention.
Abstract
This paper describes the framework of a theory of attention that posits parallel computations with little competition for common resources. The mind is likened to a set of processing entities called modules that may be active in parallel. Their activation is externally driven. Cooperation among modules lis often required for achieving goals which in turn calls for communication. Attention is assumed to control only the communication among modules. It exerts attentional emphasis by bringing the output of a to-be-attended module to the information of a maximal number of other modules, while limiting the ability of deemphasized modules to disseminate their output. This is achieved by a mechanism called decoupling that controls the connections among modules. The control of decoupling that is required for attentional emphasis is associated with an aversive phenomenal aspect that is usually called effort. The decoupling mechanism is a vehicle for achieving selectivity. It is less fit for coping with multiple goals. The reason is that confusion and outcome conflict are likely when more than one goal is emphasized. The architecture of the control over decoupling and the strategies used to cope with various situations are elaborated on. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA173501
Entities
People
- David Navon
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego