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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
09:37
Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
Published on: July 5, 2015
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Attention to perceive, to learn and to respond
Geoffrey Hall1,2, Gabriel Rodríguez3
11 Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|June 8, 2017
Summary
Perceptual learning involves changes in stimulus salience, but neither Mackintosh nor Hall
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Perception
Background:
- Mackintosh's theory proposed perceptual learning relies on changes in stimulus salience.
- Hall offered an alternative account, also focusing on stimulus prediction.
- Recent findings necessitate a re-evaluation of these theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel account of how stimulus salience changes.
- To integrate attentional learning principles into perceptual learning.
- To differentiate attention for learning from attention for perception and performance.
Main Methods:
- Critically analyzing existing theories of perceptual learning and attentional learning.
- Synthesizing recent empirical findings and theoretical perspectives.
- Developing a new framework for understanding changes in stimulus salience.
Main Results:
- Neither Mackintosh's nor Hall's account accurately explains changes in stimulus salience.
- Stimulus salience changes are not solely dependent on prediction by another event.
- Attentional learning, focusing on stimulus prediction of consequences, offers a more viable explanation.
Conclusions:
- A revised understanding of perceptual learning is required.
- The role of attention in perception and performance is critical.
- Future research should explore how attention-for-learning relates to attention for perception and performance.
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