20 Jan 2014
January 20, 2014

The Attentional Blink Reveals the Probabilistic Nature of Discrete Conscious Perception

Neuroscience

Is conscious perception continuous or discrete?  Asplund et al use the attentional blink paradigm to demonstrate that conscious perception is discrete and quantal. Attention increases the probability that a representation will reach awareness.

We have argued that cognition is discrete and quantal because the backbone of neural communication used for cognition is oscillatory.  For this discussion see:

  • Buschman,T.J. and Miller, E.K. (2010) Shifting the Spotlight of Attention: Evidence for Discrete Computations in Cognition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 4(194): 1-9. View PDF »
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About the Author


The Miller Lab uses experimental and theoretical approaches to study the neural basis of the high-level cognitive functions that underlie complex goal-directed behavior. ekmillerlab.mit.edu