Sliding Scale Theory of Attention and Consciousness/Unconsciousness.

Attention operates on a sliding scale of time and space compression, ranging from the diffuse, unconscious cognitive unconscious to the tightly compressed conscious awareness of the present moment. Existing theories of consciousness fail to adequately address the role of attention in the cognitive unconscious or account for consciousness across diverse animal species and forms. A sliding scale theory proposes that conscious awareness emerges as a property of tight time and space compression, which produces especially clear signals. The present moment's compression enhances this process, offering an evolutionary explanation for conscious awareness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Attention defined as focusing on a unit of information plays a prominent role in both consciousness and the cognitive unconscious, due to its essential role in information processing. Existing theories of consciousness invariably address the relationship between attention and conscious awareness, ranging from attention is not required to crucial. However, these theories do not adequately or even remotely consider the contribution of attention to the cognitive unconscious. A valid theory of consciousness must also be a robust theory of the cognitive unconscious, a point rarely if ever considered. Current theories also emphasize human perceptual consciousness, primarily visual, despite evidence that consciousness occurs in diverse animal species varying in cognitive capacity, and across many forms of perceptual and thought consciousness. A comprehensive and parsimonious perspective applicable to the diversity of species demonstrating consciousness and the various forms-sliding scale theory of attention and consciousness/unconsciousness-is proposed with relevant research reviewed. Consistent with the continuous organization of natural events, attention occupies a sliding scale in regards to time and space compression. Unconscious attention in the form of the "cognitive unconscious" is time and spaced diffused, whereas conscious attention is tightly time and space compressed to the present moment. Due to the special clarity derived from brief and concentrated signals, the tight time and space compression yields conscious awareness as an emergent property. The present moment enhances the time and space compression of conscious attention, and contributes to an evolutionary explanation of conscious awareness.