A computational theory of visual attention.

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Abstract
A computational theory of visual attention is presented. The basic theory (TVA) combines the biased–choice model for single–stimulus recognition with the fixed–capacity independent race model (FIRM) for selection from multi–element displays. TVA organizes a large body of experimental findings on performance in visual recognition and attention tasks. A recent development (CTVA) combines TVA with a theory of perceptual grouping by proximity. CTVA explains effects of perceptual grouping and spatial distance between items in multi–element displays. A new account of spatial focusing is proposed in this paper. The account provides a framework for understanding visual search as an interplay between serial and parallel processes.