ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines an information-processing view of perception where exogenous and endogenous attention are formulated as aspects of information processing within a mechanism. The mechanism, based on Shannon Communication System, Bayesian Hierarchical Predictive Processing and elements of Control Theory, is called the Bayes-Shannon system. The suggested mechanism implements both endogenous (top-down) and exogenous (bottom-up) kinds of perceptual attention in terms of working memory control of perfect correlations and differences/errors between predicted and actual states of sensory transducer(s). The suggested view agrees with Jesse Prinz’s view that attention engenders consciousness and expands on Ned Block’s views on conscious overflow vs. cognitive access.
