Masking and Conscious Perception

We examine dynamical aspects of conscious visual perception related to briefly presented stimuli and their possible neural underpinnings. The concept of the formation of an object as central to visual perception has been strongly supported from findings from backward masking. We particularly suggest that consciousness is related to the formation of closed thalamo-cortical loops mediated by the basal ganglia.

Selected Publications

Hamker, F. H. (2007)
The mechanisms of feature inheritance as predicted by a systems-level model of visual attention and decision making
Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 3:111-123.
PDF-document

Ma, W. J., Hamker, F. H., Koch, C.
Neural mechanisms underlying temporal aspects of conscious visual perception
In: H. Ögmen & B. G. Breitmeyer (eds.) The First Half Second: The Microgenesis and Temporal Dynamics of Unconscious and Conscious Visual Processes. MIT Press, Chapter 16, 275-294.

Trapp, S., Schroll, H., Hamker, F.H. (2012)
Open and Closed loops: A computational approach to Attention and Consciousness
Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 8(1): 1-8
PDF-document

Ebner, C., Schroll, H., Winther, G., Niedeggen, M., Hamker, F.H.(2015)
Open and closed cortico-subcortical loops: A neuro-computational account of access to consciousness in the distractor-induced blindness paradigm
Consciousness and Cognition, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2015.02.007.
Show Article