ABSTRACT
Different possibilities exist in relation to the presentation of the numerous and at first sight relatively disparate data coming from research in the attention domain. We propose here a presentation organized on the basis of the main attentional components, an option that in our opinion presents several merits. First of all, and in spite of the apparent heterogeneity of currently available data, it enables both a descriptive and a comprehensive analysis of the different attentional aspects. Indeed, as we will attempt to show, most of the observations emanating from specific research on attention can be gathered and reorganized around the main concepts currently used to describe attentional phenomena. Moreover this type of presentation presents an evident practical interest: it offers those involved in this field a tool which allows them to orient both the type and the methodology of analysis, and so the interpretation of the observations collected; more specifically it allows clinicians to intervene if the case arises, in a manner which is specific, adequate and therefore efficient. Finally, this type of presentation will allow us to detail the main notions specific to each attentional component. Indeed, although an increasingly large consensus is emerging, some confusion still exists about the use of some of these concepts and their specific significance. We hope that this presentation, despite its own limitations, will help to promote this ‘conceptual unity’ and, consequently, will increase the recourse to a common vocabulary for everyone, whether student, researcher or clinician.
