Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
09:44
Methods to Test Visual Attention Online
Published on: February 19, 2015
Objects and attention: the state of the art
1Department of Psychology, Yale University, P.O. Box 208205, New Haven, CT 06520-8205, USA. brian.scholl@yale.edu
Cognition
|March 14, 2001
Summary
Attention can select discrete objects, not just locations or features. This review explores object-based attention, its relation to object properties, and its presence in other senses and fields.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Vision Science
Background:
- Traditional attention models focus on spatial regions and visual features.
- Emerging research indicates attention can select discrete objects directly.
- Understanding the units of attention is crucial for cognitive theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of object-based attention.
- To explore the relationship between attended objects and various perceptual properties.
- To examine the dynamic nature of objecthood in attention and its cross-modal applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on object-based attention.
- Analysis of theoretical models and empirical findings.
- Synthesis of evidence from vision science and other fields.
Main Results:
- Attention can operate on discrete objects, extending beyond spatial or feature-based selection.
- Object-based attention is influenced by factors like reference frames, perceptual grouping, and object features.
- The concept of objecthood in attention extends to dynamic aspects, other sensory modalities, and developmental psychology.
Conclusions:
- Object-based attention represents a significant advancement in understanding attentional mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the properties and dynamics of attended objects.
- The principles of object-based attention have broad implications across cognitive science.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...