**Note: has been refuted and labeled as too shallow of an explanation for the attentional filter. The Early Selection Model is one of the theories about where the attentional filter is, along the sensory perception timeline. In this model, unattended information is filtered out right away, at the level of the initial sensory input. 

Early Selection Model

**Note: has been refuted and labeled as too shallow of an explanation for the attentional filter. The Late Selection Mode is one of the theories about where the attentional filter is. Contrary to the Early Selection model, this theory states that some important but unattended stimuli (such as one's name) may undergo substantial unconscious processing right up to the level of semantic meaning and awareness, before suddenly capturing attention. In other words, the filtration imposed by the processing bottleneck occurs at a later point. 

Late Selection Model

According to the Perceptual Load Model, when we focus on a complex stimulus that requires a lot of perceptual processing, no perceptual resources remain for use on competing unattended items; in this instance, attention would exert early selection. When we focus on simpler stimuli, however, there is enough perceptual capacity to allow for processing of other stimuli, right up to the level of semantic meaning; in this instance, attention would exert late selection.

Perceptual Load Model

- Early Selection Model
- Late Selection Model
- Perceptual Load Model

New York University

One of the important functions of attention is to act as a filter, blocking unimportant stimuli and directing cognitive resources to only the most important  events, and thereby protecting the brain from being overwhelmed by the world.

Attentional Bottleneck

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

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