Object-Based Attention: Definition, History, and Characteristics
Object-based attention is a cognitive process that enables us to focus on certain objects in our environment while ignoring others. It involves the selection of objects from a field of vision or from a group of objects to be processed more deeply. It is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation to allow us to pay attention to objects that are most relevant to our current goals or interests.
History
The concept of object-based attention has been studied since the early 20th century. One of the earliest studies of object-based attention was done by psychologist Max Wertheimer in 1912. He found that when a person was presented with multiple objects, they would focus on one object more than the others. He called this phenomenon “selective attention” and it provided the foundation for the study of object-based attention.
Since then, psychologists have continued to investigate the phenomenon of object-based attention. In recent decades, researchers have used a variety of tools to better understand how object-based attention works. These tools include eye-tracking, brain imaging, and experimental paradigms.
Characteristics
Object-based attention has several distinct characteristics. It is a voluntary and flexible process, allowing us to choose which objects to focus on and when to shift our focus. It is also an effortful process, requiring us to expend energy to maintain our focus on a particular object. Furthermore, object-based attention is thought to be automatic, meaning that it occurs without us necessarily being aware of it. Finally, object-based attention is thought to be both top-down and bottom-up. Top-down refers to the process of using our goals or prior knowledge to select which objects to focus on. Bottom-up refers to the process of selecting objects based on our sensory experience.
Conclusion
Object-based attention is a cognitive process that enables us to focus on certain objects while ignoring others. It has been studied since the early 20th century and has been found to have several distinct characteristics. Understanding how object-based attention works can help us better understand how our attention works in everyday life.
References
Gazzaley, A., & Nobre, A. C. (2012). Top-down modulation: Bridging selective attention and working memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(5), 129-135. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2012.03.011
Kahneman, D. (1973). Attention and effort. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Kastner, S., & Ungerleider, L. G. (2000). Mechanisms of visual attention in the human cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 23, 315-341. doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.23.1.315
McGurk, H., & Macdonald, J. (1976). Hearing lips and seeing voices. Nature, 264(5588), 746-748. doi:10.1038/264746a0
Wertheimer, M. (1912). Experimentelle Studien über das Sehen von Bewegung. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 61, 161-265.