The attentional blink (Raymond et al 1992) refers to an apparent gap in perception that can be elicited when a second target follows a first at a temporal lag of several hundred milliseconds. . Theoretical and computational work have provided a variety of explanations for early sets of blink data, but more recent data have challenged these accounts by showing that the blink is attenuated when subjects encode entire strings of stimuli ( In this paper, we describe the Episodic Simultaneous Type Serial Token model (eSTST), a computational account of encoding visual stimuli into working memory which suggests that the attentional blink is a cognitive strategy rather than a resource limitation. This model is composed of neurobiologically plausible neural elements and simulates the attentional blink with a competitive attentional mechanism facilitates the formation of episodically distinct representations within working memory. In addition to the blink, the model addresses the phenomena of repetition blindness and whole report superiority, producing predictions which are supported by experimental work.

A detailed description of the simultaneous type, serial token (ST 2 ) model is presented. ST 2 is a model of temporal attention and working memory that encapsulates 5 principles: (a) M. M. Chun and M. C. Potter's (1995) 2-stage model, (b) a Stage 1 salience filter, (c) N. G. Kanwisher's (1987Kanwisher's ( , 1991 types-tokens distinction, (d) a transient attentional enhancement, and (e) a mechanism for associating types with tokens called the binding pool. The authors instantiate this theoretical position in a connectionist implementation, called neural-ST 2 , which they illustrate by modeling temporal attention results focused on the attentional blink (AB). They demonstrate that the ST 2 model explains a spectrum of AB findings. Furthermore, they highlight a number of new temporal attention predictions arising from the ST 2 theory, which are tested in a series of behavioral experiments. Finally, the authors review major AB models and theories and compare them with ST 2 .

Brain oscillations are one of the core mechanisms underlying episodic memory. However, while some studies highlight the role of synchronized oscillatory activity, others highlight the role of desynchronized activity. We here describe a framework to resolve this conundrum and integrate these two opposing oscillatory behaviors. Specifically, we argue that the synchronization and desynchronization reflect a division of labor between a hippocampal and a neocortical system, respectively. We describe a novel oscillatory framework that integrates synchronization and desynchronization mechanisms to explain how the two systems interact in the service of episodic memory.

Is one's temporal perception of the world truly as seamless as it appears? This paper presents a computationally motivated theory suggesting that visual attention samples information from temporal episodes (episodic Simultaneous Type/ Serial Token model or eSTST; Wyble et al 2009a). Breaks between these episodes are punctuated by periods of suppressed attention, better known as the attentional blink (Raymond, Shapiro & Arnell 1992). We test predictions from this model and demonstrate that subjects are able to report more letters from a sequence of four targets presented in a dense temporal cluster, than from a sequence of four targets that are interleaved with non-targets. However, this superior report accuracy comes at a cost in impaired temporal order perception. Further experiments explore the dynamics of multiple episodes, and the boundary conditions that trigger episodic breaks. Finally, we contrast the importance of attentional control, limited resources and memory capacity constructs in the model.