Lecturer's Précis - Broadbent (1958)
"Perception and Communication"
[Extract - the "Filter" Model of Attention]
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First published online 10:51 BST 6th May 2002,
Copyright Derek J. Smith (Chartered Engineer). This version [2.0 - copyright] 09:00 BST 4th July 2018.
Broadbent
(1958)
See firstly the supporting commentary for this material.
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Broadbent's
(1958) "Filter" Model of Attention: This diagram represents the flow of sensory
information through a number of processing stages, ranged sequentially from
left-to-right. Several simultaneous sensory inputs are allowed for (parallel
arrows, far left), all competing for central selective filter
(pink box, left of centre). This filter is capable of selecting for further
processing (ie. "attending
to") only one of the competing inputs, and the one selected is passed
along the limited capacity channel to two substantially more
advanced subsystems. The first of these is the system for varying
output until some input is secured (the higher of the two blue
boxes), which is in turn in direct communication with the body's motor system
(the effectors, top right). This module is responsible for
initiating and maintaining behaviour towards a particular goal. The second
subsystem is the store of conditional probabilities of past events
(the lower of the two blue boxes), and is responsible, via the feedback
pathway shown, for modulating the decisions being made by the filter towards
those inputs which past experience indicates are associated with success at
the goal in question (or similar goals). Another feedback pathway recycles
material which is at risk of being lost due to the limited capacity of the
filter and its channel back into short term memory storage. If this diagram fails to load
automatically, it may be accessed separately at |
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This version Copyright © 2002, Derek J. Smith. |
References
Broadbent, D.E.
(1958). Perception and Communication. London: Pergamon.