Relations between the physiology of attention and the physiology of consciousness

Summary Consciousness, analyzed as a neurological system like any other, has four functions. The first is planning and setting up behavioral plans or schemata in advance of their execution in behavior. This function requires an internal record of the schema with its subordinate parts and of the current status of its execution. The second function is execution, which requires giving a priority to each schema and executing the one with the highest priority. The third is directing two kinds of attention: outside-in attention changes priorities as a result of demands from the environment; inside-out attention directs behavior toward particular aspects of the environment on the basis of the needs of the current schema. Fourth is retrieving long-term episodic memories, which can be used only in planning, executing, and attention. Aspects of these functions can be seen in neurophysiology, especially in frontal and temporal lobes. Psychophysical analysis of visual functions shows that most information processing proceeds without consciousness.