Rich conscious perception outside focal attention.
Trends in cognitive sciences September 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.05.007 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA new technique suggests that people can consciously perceive more items at once than can be held in visual working memory. The method exploits unattended 'ensemble properties' that can be detected without reducing working memory capacity, offering a way to study phenomenal consciousness beyond memory limits.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 125 |
| Key finding | People can consciously see more items at once than can be held in visual working memory, as indicated by the detection of unattended ensemble properties without reducing working memory capacity. |
Abstract
Can we consciously see more items at once than can be held in visual working memory? This question has eluded resolution because the ultimate evidence is subjects' reports in which phenomenal consciousness is filtered through working memory. However, a new technique makes use of the fact that unattended 'ensemble properties' can be detected 'for free' without decreasing working memory capacity.