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Selective Attention: A Plausible Mechanism Underlying Confirmation Bias.
Genís Prat-Ortega1, Jaime de la Rocha2
1Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain; Centre de Recerca Matemàtica, Campus de Bellaterra, Bellaterra, Spain.
Current Biology : CB
|October 10, 2018
Summary
Past experiences shape our perception by directing attention towards sensory evidence that aligns with previous decisions. This selective attention introduces a confirmation bias, influencing how we process new information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Decision Science
Background:
- Human perception and decision-making are influenced by prior experiences.
- The brain's processing of sensory information is not always objective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how previous choices affect attention allocation.
- To determine if attention is biased towards decision-consistent sensory evidence.
Main Methods:
- The study likely involved presenting participants with sensory stimuli.
- Participants' choices and attention patterns were recorded.
- Analysis focused on the correlation between past decisions and current attentional focus.
Main Results:
- Attention was significantly biased towards sensory evidence congruent with prior decisions.
- This selective deployment of attention supports the confirmation bias hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Previous decisions actively shape ongoing perception by guiding attention.
- Confirmation bias is a mechanism through which past choices influence our interpretation of the present.
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