ABSTRACT

In common usage, the term attention is used in two main ways reflecting a distinction that has been noted since the time of William James. One sense is that we optimize the level of processing—a theme addressed by Richards and Hunter in this volume. A second distinct meaning of attention is the selection of some information for processing—a theme that is the subject of several other chapters in this volume. The present chapter addresses an issue that is central to selection: If attention is directed, what is it directed to? The information used to direct attention must result from processes that occur prior to the allocation of attention (termed preattentive processes). It is certainly clear that the systems used to shift attention develop over the first few years of life (e.g., Maurer & Lewis, chap. 2, this volume). However, we also need to consider how the preattentive systems develop, in order to understand the overall performance of infants at different stages of development.