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Visual Attention Modulates Phenomenal Consciousness: Evidence From a Change Detection Study
Luca Simione1,2, Enrico Di Pace1, Salvatore G Chiarella1
1Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 17, 2019
Summary
This study reveals two stages of phenomenal consciousness preceding access consciousness. Visual attention modulates a later phenomenal stage linked to fragile short-term memory, but not the earliest iconic memory stage.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Theories distinguish phenomenal consciousness (broad accessibility) and access consciousness (narrow accessibility).
- Phenomenal consciousness is linked to iconic or fragile short-term memory, while access consciousness relates to working memory.
- Previous research debated whether attention precedes or follows conscious access, with some suggesting preattentive modulation of phenomenal consciousness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal relationship between visual attention, phenomenal consciousness, and access consciousness.
- To differentiate the roles of iconic memory and fragile short-term memory in phenomenal consciousness.
- To resolve controversy regarding attention's influence on early visual processing and consciousness.
Main Methods:
- An experiment using a novel change detection procedure with delayed cueing of target objects.
- Objects were prioritized (high/low) using color cues to assess attentional bias.
- Electrophysiological and neurophysiological measures were considered in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Attentional bias toward high-priority objects was observed with longer cueing delays (600, 1200 ms), associated with fragile short-term memory.
- No attentional bias was found with shorter cueing delays (16.6, 200 ms), linked to iconic memory.
- Findings suggest a time-dependent modulation of phenomenal consciousness by visual attention.
Conclusions:
- Two distinct stages of phenomenal consciousness exist before access consciousness.
- An early, preattentive stage relates to iconic memory.
- A later stage, related to fragile short-term memory, is modulated by visual attention, dissociating it from central attention directing access consciousness.
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