Premotor theory of attention

The premotor theory of attention is a theory in cognitive neuroscience proposing that when we internally shift our attention to something, the brain engages a motor plan to move to engage with that thing.^[1] For example, we can pay attention to a wing mirror while maintaining gaze straight ahead; according to the premotor theory, this involves planning an eye movement towards the wing mirror.

One line of evidence for this theory comes from neurophysiological recordings in the frontal eye fields and superior colliculus. Neurons in these areas are typically activated during eye movements, and electrical stimulation of these regions can generate eye movements. Another line of evidence comes from behavioural findings, showing that upcoming eye movements facilitate perception.^[2]

References[]

^ Craighero, Laila; Rizzolatti, Giacomo (2005-01-01), Itti, Laurent; Rees, Geraint; Tsotsos, John K. (eds.), "CHAPTER 31 - The Premotor Theory of Attention", Neurobiology of Attention, Burlington: Academic Press, pp. 181–186, ISBN 978-0-12-375731-9, retrieved 2020-11-26
^ Rizzolatti, Giacomo; Riggio, Lucia; Dascola, Isabella; Umiltá, Carlo (1987-01-01). "Reorienting attention across the horizontal and vertical meridians: Evidence in favor of a premotor theory of attention". Neuropsychologia. 25 (1, Part 1): 31–40. doi:10.1016/0028-3932(87)90041-8. ISSN 0028-3932.

This neuroscience article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] Craighero, Laila; Rizzolatti, Giacomo (2005-01-01), Itti, Laurent; Rees, Geraint; Tsotsos, John K. (eds.), "CHAPTER 31 - The Premotor Theory of Attention", Neurobiology of Attention, Burlington: Academic Press, pp. 181–186, ISBN 978-0-12-375731-9, retrieved 2020-11-26

[2] Rizzolatti, Giacomo; Riggio, Lucia; Dascola, Isabella; Umiltá, Carlo (1987-01-01). "Reorienting attention across the horizontal and vertical meridians: Evidence in favor of a premotor theory of attention". Neuropsychologia. 25 (1, Part 1): 31–40. doi:10.1016/0028-3932(87)90041-8. ISSN 0028-3932.

[1]

[2]