Attention and consciousness

For thirty years, evidence supported the view that attention is necessary for conscious perception. Recent findings have challenged this view, suggesting consciousness and attention may dissociate. This paper reviews the debate and argues that the evidence for dissociation is not decisive. The authors present an opinionated overview, highlighting that the relationship between attention and consciousness remains controversial and under investigation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

AbstractFor the past three decades there has been a substantial amount of scientific evidence supporting the view that attention is necessary and sufficient for perceptual representations to become conscious (i.e., for there to be something that it is like to experience a representational perceptual state). This view, however, has been recently questioned on the basis of some alleged counterevidence. In this paper we survey some of the most important recent findings. In doing so, we have two primary goals. The first is descriptive: we provide a literature review for those seeking an understanding of the present debate. The second is editorial: we suggest that the evidence alleging dissociations between consciousness and attention is not decisive. Thus, this is an opinionated overview of the debate. By presenting our assessment, we hope to bring out both sides in the debate and to underscore that the issues here remain matters of intense controversy and ongoing investigation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This article is categorized under: Philosophy > Consciousness