Orienting of Attention

by Wright, Richard D.; Ward, Lawrence M.

• ISBN13: 9780195130492
• ISBN10: 0195130499
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book is a succinct introduction to the orienting of attention. Richard Wright and Lawrence Ward describe the covert orienting literature clearly and concisely, illustrating it with numerous high-quality images, specifically designed to make the challenging theoretical concepts very accessible. The book begins with an historical introduction that provides a great deal of information about orienting, much of which will be new even to seasoned researchers. Wright and Ward then systematically describe the development of various experimental paradigms that have been devised to study covert orienting, and the theoretical issues raised by this research. One trend that they analyze in detail is the progression from relatively simple models of spatial attention (attention spotlight and zoom lens models) to an integrative computational framework based on a concept called the 'activity distribution.' They also present a comprehensive survey of cognitive neuroscience research on the brain mechanisms underlying spatial attention shifts, as well as a chapter summarizing recent research on crossmodal attention shifts, and elucidating the links between attention orienting in the visual, auditory, and tactile domains. In the Epilogue they offer a concise summary of the book, and develop preliminary frameworks for understanding the relationship between spatial attention and orienting in response to social cues (social cognitive neuroscience) and for describing the evolution of covert orienting. Orienting of Attention provides a systematic survey that is ideal for those looking for an accessible introduction to the field and also for students and researchers who want a state-of the-art overview.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 3
Helmholtz's Study of Attention Shifting	p. 3
Early Ideas About the Attentional Focal Point	p. 8
Overt and Covert Orienting	p. 11
Studying Attention Shifts With Location Cueing	p. 15
Early Location-Cueing Experiments	p. 16
Goal-Driven and Stimulus-Driven Control	p. 21
Attentional Capture by Abrupt-Onset Stimuli	p. 27
Methodological Issues	p. 30
Properties of the Attentional Focal Point	p. 37
Analog and Discrete Attention Shifts	p. 38
Variable Spatial Extent of Attentional Focus	p. 46
Can Attention Be Divided Into Multiple Foci?	p. 53
LaBergian Activity Distribution Model	p. 60
Sensory and Attentional Mediation of Covert Orienting	p. 65
Sensory Analysis and Location-Cueing Effects	p. 66
A Systematic Investigation of Multiple Location Cue Effects	p. 73
Activity Distribution Account of Multiple Location Cue Effects	p. 80
Activity Distribution Account of Other Cue Effects	p. 86
Sequential Attention Shifts	p. 93
Shifting Attention to Multiple Abrupt-Onset Stimuli	p. 93
Inhibition of Return	p. 103
Eye Movements and Attention Shifts	p. 121
Oculomotor System	p. 121
Eye Tracking Methodology	p. 130
Disengaged Attention and Saccades	p. 133
Relationship Between Attention and Eye Movements	p. 137
Saccade Preparation and Attention	p. 142
Physiology of Attention Shifts	p. 153
Subcortical Attention Mechanisms	p. 154
Cortical Attention Mechanisms	p. 173
Stimulus-Driven and Goal-Driven Attention Shifts	p. 192
Premotor Theory Revisited	p. 195
Crossmodal Attention Shifts	p. 199
Lights, Sounds, and Touches Can Cause Attention Shifts	p. 200
Crossmodal Inhibition of Return	p. 211
Multisensory Integration and Attention	p. 214
Neural Mechanisms of Crossmodal Attention Shifts	p. 217
Epilogue	p. 229
Highly Familiar Symbolic and Social Cues	p. 232
Evolution of Attention Orienting	p. 235
References	p. 243
Figure Credits	p. 286
Index	p. 287
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