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A value-driven mechanism of attentional selection
1Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. bander33@jhu.edu
Journal of Vision
|April 17, 2013
Summary
This review introduces a value-driven mechanism for attentional selection, highlighting how learned reward associations influence cognitive processing beyond goal-driven and salience-driven factors.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Attentional selection is crucial for cognitive processing, with established voluntary (goal-driven) and involuntary (salience-driven) mechanisms.
- Existing frameworks for attentional control primarily focus on these two mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a conceptual framework for attentional control emphasizing survival and well-being.
- To introduce and review evidence for a value-driven mechanism of attentional selection.
- To explore how learned reward associations influence attentional priority.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review of existing literature on attentional selection.
- Integration of goal-driven, salience-driven, and value-driven attentional mechanisms.
- Analysis of recent empirical evidence supporting value-driven attention.
Main Results:
- Goal-driven and salience-driven attentional selection mechanisms are well-documented.
- A distinct value-driven mechanism, based on learned reward associations, is proposed.
- This value-driven mechanism operates independently of salience and goals.
Conclusions:
- Reward learning significantly modifies attentional priority.
- Value-driven attention allows stimuli to gain selection priority even if nonsalient or task-irrelevant.
- This mechanism is essential for adaptive behavior and survival.
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