Conscious perception can be both graded and discrete.

Which visual working memory model accounts best for target representation in the attentional blink?

“…Asplund and his colleagues (Asplund et al, 2014), who suggested that the perception in the AB is a discrete process in their study, showed that the variable precision model did not fit the data well, but the standard mixture model did. However, Sy et al (2021) demonstrated that the variable precision model could describe the graded loss of T2 information in the AB in their data. Although our analysis cannot address whether the nature of the awareness in the AB is gradual or discrete, the findings that the VP and VPG models ’ performance is affected by the lag may imply that lag may also be a factor in the process of visual information gaining access to awareness.…”

“…Our study’s fundamental motivation was to systematically compare eight commonly used VWM models in the AB domain: the StM , the Slot , the SA , the SR , the EnsInt , the Swap , the VP , and the VPG models . Previous research has successfully used the StM model to account for the representations in the AB task (Asplund et al, 2014; Sy et al, 2021; Karabay et al, 2022), but some studies have suggested that VWM representations could also be explained well with variable precision across and within trials (the VP and VPG models ; Fougnie et al, 2012; Van den Berg et al, 2012). Meanwhile, the EnsInt and Swap models , in which potentially important nontarget reports are considered, have gained little attention in the model choices in the AB domain to date.…”

“…Interestingly, they found that when the identification of the first target (T1) required the focus of attention on a single spatial location only, awareness of T2 was discrete (guess rate varied); on the contrary, when T1 identification induced a spatial spread of attention, awareness of T2 was gradual (precision varied). Similarly, Sy et al (2021) evaluated T2 performance using both discrete mixture model and variable resource model. Intriguingly, their findings also confirmed that the temporal loss of T2 information during the AB might be either gradual or discrete.…”

“…Asplund et al (2014) gave substantial support for the superiority of the standard mixture model. However, Sy et al (2021) suggested that both the standard mixture model and variable resource model can be fitted to the AB data well, but under different experimental designs. In addition, previous comparisons of these VWM models in the AB domain have contained limitations regarding their implementations of the models.…”

Grand Challenges in Consciousness Research Across Perception, Cognition, Self, and Emotion

“…Another relevant issue in consciousness research is about the dichotomous (e.g., Sergent and Dehaene, 2004) vs. graded (e.g., Overgaard et al, 2006) nature of consciousness (conscious access). Recently, Sy et al (2021) have found evidence that conscious perception can be both graded and discrete (allor-none, dichotomous), by means of the attentional blink paradigm, in which two sequentially presented targets in a rapid serial visual presentation have to be detected. Their findings indicate that loss of target information can be graded or discrete, depending on whether perceptual or higher central stages are taxed by processing demands, and help reconcile conflicting views regarding how information can be lost from awareness.…”