Skip to main content

Selective Visual Attention: Selective Cuing, Selective Cognitive Processing, and Selective Response Processing

  • Chapter
Cognitive Electrophysiology

Abstract

Selective attention systems can be characterized as a collection of brain mechanisms. The function of these mechanisms is the modulation of the impact of external and internal environmental stimuli on overt or covert (e.g., cognitive) behavior of the organism. Many theories of attention assume that the basic function of attentional mechanisms is to protect the brain’s limited capacity system from informational overload.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alho K, Sams M, Paavilainen P, Näätänen R (1986): Small pitch separation and the selective-attention effect on the ERP. Psychophysiology 23:189–197.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alho K, Lavikainen J, Reinikainen K, Sams M, Näätänen R (1990): Event-related brain potentials in selective listening to frequent and rare stimuli. Psychophysiology 27:73–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alho K, Paavilainen P, Reinikainen K, Sams M, Näätänen R (1986): Separability of different negative components of the event-related potential associated with auditory stimulus processing. Psychophysiology 23:613–623.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alho K, Sams M, Paavilainen P, Reinikainen K, Näätänen R (1989): Event-related brain potentials reflecting processing of relevant and irrelevant stimuli during selective listening. Psychophysiology 26:514–528.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alho K, Donauer N, Paavilainen P, Reinikainen K, Sams M, Näätänen R (1987a): Stimulus selection during auditory spatial attention as expressed by event-related potentials. Biol Psychol 24:153–162.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alho K, Töttöla K, Reinikainen K, Sams M, Näätänen R (1987b): Brain mechanisms of selective listening reflected by event-related potentials. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 68:458–470.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baddeley, AD (1983): Working memory. Phil Trans R Soc London 302:311–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent DE (1958): Perception and Communication. London: Pergamon Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent DE (1970): Stimulus set and response set: Two kinds of selective attention. In: Attention: Contemporary Theory and Analysis Mostofsky DI, ed. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookhuis KA (1989): Event-Related Potentials and Information Processing. Doctoral Thesis, University of Groningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookhuis KA, Mulder G, Mulder LJM, Gloerich ABM, Van Dellen HJ, Van der Meere JJ, Ellermann HH (1981): Late positive components and stimulus evaluation time. Biol Psychol 30:107–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brookhuis KA, Mulder G, Mulder LJM, Gloerich ABM (1983): The P3 complex as an index of information processing: The effects of response probability. Biol Psychol 17:277–296.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bullock D, Grossberg S (1988): Neural dynamics of planned arm movements: Emergent invariants and speed accuracy properties during trajectory formation. Psychol Rev 1:49–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherry EC (1953): Some experiments on the recognition of speech with one and two ears. J Acoust Soc Am 25:957–979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles MGH, Gratton G, Bashore TR, Eriksen CW, Donchin E (1985): A psychological investigation of the continuous flow model of human information processing. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 11:529–553.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper LA, Shepard RN (1973): Chronometric studies of the rotation of mental images. In: Visual Information Processing, Chase WG, ed., pp. 75–176. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper R, Osselton JW, Shaw JC (1980): EEG Technology, 3d Ed. London: Butterworths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowey A (1979): Cortical maps and visual perception. Q J Exp Psychol 31:1–17.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowey A (1985): Aspects of cortical organization related to selective attention and selective impairments of visual perception: A tutorial review. In: Attention and Performance XI, Posner MI, Marin O, eds., pp. 41–62. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deecke L, Grzinger B, Kornhuber HH (1976): Voluntary finger movements in man: Cerebral potentials and theory. Biol Cybernet 23:99–119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong R, Coles MGH, Logan GD, Gratton G (1990): In search of the point of no return: The control of response processes. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 16:164–182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong R, Wierda M, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1988): The use of partial information in response preparation. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 14:682–692.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Munck JC (1989): A Mathematical and Physical Interpretation of the Electromagnetic Field of the Brain. Doctoral Thesis, University of Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch JA, Deutsch D (1963): Attention: Some theoretical considerations. Psychol Rev 70:80–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donders FC (1868/1969): On the speed of mental processes. In: Attention and Performance II, Koster WG, ed., pp. 412–431 Koster WG, trans. Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan J, Humphreys GW (1989): Visual search and stimulus similarity. Psychol Rev 96:433–458.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eason RG (1981): Visual evoked potential correlates of early neural filtering during selective attention. Bull Psychonom Soc 18:203–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eason R, Harter M, White C (1969): Effects of attention and arousal on visually evoked cortical potentials and reaction time in man. Physiol Behav 4:283–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eason RG, Oakley M, Flowers L (1983): Central neural influences on the human retina during selective attention. Physiol Psychol 11:18–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen B, Eriksen CW (1974): Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Percept Psychophys 16:143–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen CW, Coles MGH, Morris LR, O’Hara WP (1985): An electromyographic examination of response competition. Bull Psychonom Soc 23:165–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farah MJ, Peronnet F (1989): Event-related potentials in the study of mental imagery. J Psychophysiol 3:99–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratton G, Coles MGH, Sirevaag E, Eriksen CW, Donchin E (1988): Pre- and poststimulus activation of response channels: A psychophysiological analysis. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 14:331–344.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter TC, Van der Zande RD, Wiethoff M, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1987): Visual selective attention during meaningful noise and after sleep deprivation. Current Trends in Event-Related Potential Research EEG Supplement 4. Elsevier: Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen JC, Hillyard SA (1983): Selective attention to multidimensional auditory stimuli. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 9:1–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harter MR, Aine CJ (1984): Brain mechanisms of visual selective attention. In: Varieties of Attention Parasuraman R, Davies DR, eds., pp. 293–321. Orlando: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harter MR, Guido W (1980): Attention to pattern orientation: Negative cortical potentials, reaction time, and the selection process. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 49:461–475.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harter MR, Previc FH (1978): Size-specific information channels and selective attention: Visual evoked potential and behavioral measures. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 45:628–640.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harter MR, Salmon LE (1972): Intra-modality selective attention and evoked cortical potentials to randomly presented patterns. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 32:605–613.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harter MR, Aine CJ, Schroeder C (1982): Hemispheric differences in the neural processing of stimulus location and type: Effects of selective attention on visual evoked potentials. Neuropsychologia 20:412–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Kutas M (1983): Electrophysiology of cognitive processing. Annu Rev Psychol 34:33–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Mangun GR (1986): The neural basis of visual selective attention: A commentary on Harter and Aine. Biol Psychol 23:266–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Münte TF (1984): Selective attention to color and location: An analysis with event-related brain potential. Percept Psychophys 36:185–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Münte TF, Neville HJ (1985): Visual-spatial attention, orienting, and brain physiology. In: Attention and Performance XI, Posner MI, Marin OSM, eds., pp. 63–84. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Hink RF, Schwent VL, Picton TW (1973): Electrical signs of selective attention in the human brain. Science 182:177–180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard SA, Simpson GV, Woods DL, Van Voorhis S, Münte T (1984): In: Event-related brain potentials and selective attention to different modalities. Cortical Integration, Reinoso-Suarez F, Ajmone-Marsan C, eds., pp. 395–414. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman JE (1979): A two-stage model of visual search. Percept Psychophys 25:319–327.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman JE, Nelson B (1981): Spatial selectivity in visual search. Percept Psychophysic 25:319–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman JE, Simons RF, Houck MR (1983): Event-related potentials during controlled and automatic targets detection. Psychophysiology 20:625–632.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houck MR, Hoffman JE (1986): Conjunction of color and form without attention: evidence from an orientation-contingent color aftereffect. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perf 12:186–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes HC, Zimba LD (1985): Spatial maps of directed visual attention. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perf 25:319–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D, Treisman A (1984): Changing views of attention and automaticity. In: Varieties of Attention, Parasuraman R, Davies DR, eds., pp. 29–61. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenemans JL, Kok A, Smulders FTY (1993): Event-related potentials to conjunctions of spatial frequency and orientation as a function of stimulus parameters and response requirements. Electroencephalography Clin Neurophys 88:51–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer AF, Strayer DL (1988): Assessing the development of automatic processing: An application of dual-task and event-related brain potential methodologies. Biol Psychol 26:231–267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer AF, Sirevaag EJ, Braune R (1987): A psychophysiological assessment of operator workload during simulated flight missions. Hum Factors 29:145–160.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer AF, Schneider W, Fisk A, Donchin E (1986): The effects of practice and taskstructure on components of the event-related brain potential. Psychophysiology 23:33–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kutas M, Donchin E (1977): The effects of handedness, of responding hand, and of response force on the contralateral dominance of the readiness potential. In: Attention, Voluntary Contraction and Event-Related Cerebral Potentials, Desmedt J, ed., pp. 189–210. Basel: Karger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutas M, Donchin E (1980): Preparation to respond as manifested by movementrelated brain potential. Brain Res 202:95–115.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mangun GRR, Hillyard SA (1987): The spatial allocation of visual attention as indexed by event-related brain potentials. Hum Factors 29:195–211.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mangun GR, Hillyard SA (1988): Spatial gradients of visual attention: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 70:417–428.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mangun GR, Hillyard SA, Luck SJ (1993): Electrocortical substrates of visual selective attention. Attention and Performance, Kornblum S, Meyer DE, eds., 14:219–243, Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangun GRR, Hansen JC, Hillyard SA (1986): Electroretinograms reveal no evidence for centrifugal modulation of retinal input during selective attention in man. Psychophysiology 23:156–165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller J (1982): Discrete versus continuous stage models of human information processing: In search of partial output. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 8:273–296.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller J (1988): Discrete and continuous models of human information processing: Theoretical distinctions and empirical results. Acta Psychol 67:191–257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder G, Gloerich ABM, Brookhuis KA, van Dellen HJ, Mulder LJM (1984): Stage analysis of the reaction process using brain-evoked potentials and reaction time. Psychol Res 46:15–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Näätänen R (1982): Processing negativity: An evoked-potential reflection of selective attention. Psychol Bull 92:605–640.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Näätänen R (1986): The neural-specificity theory of visual selective attention evaluated: A commentary on Harter and Aine. Biol Psychol 23:281–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Näätänen R, Gaillard AWK (1983): The orienting reflex and the N2 deflection of the event-related potential (ERP). In: Tutorials in Event-Related Potential Research: Endogenous Components, Gaillard AWK, Ritler W, eds., pp. 119–141. Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Näätänen R, Michie PT (1979): Early selective attention effects on the evoked potential: A critical review and reinterpretation. Biol Psychol 8:81–136.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neville HJ, Lawson D (1987): Attention to central and peripheral visual space in a movement detection task: an event-related potential and behavioral study. I. Normal hearing adults. Brain Res 405:253–267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nissen MJ (1985): Accessing features and objects: Is location special? In: Attention and Performance XI, Posner MI, Marin O, eds., pp. 205–220. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okita T, Wijers AA, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1985): Memory search and visual spatial attention: An event-related brain potential analysis. Acta Psychol 60:263–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osman A, Bashore TR, Coles MGH, Donchin E, Meyer DE (1992): On the Transmission of Partial Information: Inferences from Movement-Related Brain Potentials. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perf 18:217–232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peronnet F, Farah MJ (1989): Mental rotation: An event-related potential study with a validated mental rotation task. Brain Cognit 9:279–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Posner ML (1978): Chronometric Explorations of Mind. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Previc FH, Harter MF (1982): Electrophysiological and behavioral indicants of selective attention to multifeature gratings. Percept Psychophys 32:465–472.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor RW, Reeve TG (1985): Compatibility effects in the assignment of symbolic stimuli to discrete finger responses. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 11:623–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Requin J (1985): Looking forward to moving soon: Ante factum selective processes in motor control. In: Attention and Performance XI, Posner MI, Marin OSM, eds. Hillsdale NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruchkin DS, Johnson R, Jr., Mahaffey D, Sutton S (1988): Toward a functional categorization of slow waves. Psychophysiology 25:339–353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rugg MD, Milner AD, Lines CR, Phalp R (1987): Modulation of visual event-related potentials by spatial and non-spatial visual selective attention. Neuropsychologia 25:85–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider W, Shiffrin RM (1977): Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search, and attention. Psychol Rev 84:1–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiffrin RM, Schneider W (1977): Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending and a general theory. Psychol Rev 84:127–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smid HGOM, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1987): The continuous flow model revisited: Perceptual and motor aspects. Current Trends in Event-Related Potential Research, EEG Suppl 40, Johnson R, Rohrfbaugh, Parasuraman R, eds., Elsevier: Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smid HGOM, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1990): Selective response activation can begin before stimulus recognition is complete: A psychophysiological and error analysis of continuous flow. Acta Psychol 74:169–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smid HGOM, Mulder G, Mulder LJM, Brands GJ (1992): A psychophysiological study of the use of partial information in stimulus-response translation. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 18:1101–1119.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smid HGOM, Lamain W, Hogeboom MM, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1991): A psychophysiological study of response preparation during visual search. J Exp Psychol Percept Perform 17:696–714.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg S (1969): On the discovery of processing stages. Acta Psychol 30:276–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sperling G (1960): The information available in brief visual presentation. Psychological monographs 74:498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuss DT, Sarazin FF, Leech EE, Picton TW (1983): Event-related potentials during naming and mental rotation. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 56:133–146.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Treisman AM, Gelade G (1980): A feature-integration theory of attention. Cognit Psychol 12:97–136.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dellen HJ, Brookhuis KA, Mulder G, Okita T, Mulder LJM (1985): Evoked potential correlates of practice in a visual search task. In: Clinical and Experimental Neurophysiology, Papakoustopoulos D, Butler S, Martin I, eds., pp. 132–155. Beckenham: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Heijden AHC (1992): Selective Attention in Vision. Routledge: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Voorhis S, Hillyard SA (1977): Visual evoked potentials and selective attention to points in space. Percept Psychophys 22:54–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA (1989): Visual Selective Attention. An Electrophysiological Approach. Doctoral Thesis, Groningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Dunajski Z, Peters M, Mulder G (1992): Magnetic brain responses in visual spatial attention. Biomagnetism: Clinical Aspects, Hoke M, Erne SN, Okada YC, Romani GL, eds., pp. 213–216. Elsevier: Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Mulder G, Okita T, Mulder LJM, Scheffers MK (1989a): Attention to colour: An ERP-analysis of selection, controlled search and motor activation. Psychophysiology 26:89–109.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Mulder G, Okita T, Mulder LJM (1989b): An ERP-study on memory search and selective attention to lettersize and conjunctions of lettersize and color. Psychophysiology 26:529–547.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Mulder G, Otten L, Feenstra S, Mulder LJM (1989c): Brain potentials during selective attention, memory search and mental rotation. Psychophysiology 26:452–467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Lamain W, Slopsema S, Mulder G, Mulder LJM (1989d): An electrophysiological investigation of the spatial distribution of attention to colored stimuli in focused and divided attention conditions. Biol Psychol 29:213–245.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijers AA, Okita T, Mulder G, Mulder LJM, Lorist MM, Poiesz R, Scheffers MK (1987): Visual search and spatial attention: ERPs in focussed and divided attention conditions. Biol Psychol 25:33–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yantis S, Jonides J (1984): Abrupt visual onsets and selective attention: Evidence from visual search. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 10:601–621.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yantis S, Jonides J (1990): Abrupt visual onsets and selective attention: Voluntary versus automatica allocation. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 16:121–134.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yantis S, Johnston JC (1990): On the locus of visual selection: Evidence from focused attention tasks. J Exp Psychol 16(1): 135–149.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mulder, G., Wijers, A.A., Brookhuis, K.A., Smid, H.G.O.M., Mulder, L.J.M. (1994). Selective Visual Attention: Selective Cuing, Selective Cognitive Processing, and Selective Response Processing. In: Heinze, HJ., Münte, T.F., Mangun, G.R. (eds) Cognitive Electrophysiology. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0283-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0283-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6693-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0283-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics