Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.
Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544;
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Aug 17;118(33). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2102421118.
In the attention schema theory (AST), the brain constructs a model of attention, the attention schema, to aid in the endogenous control of attention. Growing behavioral evidence appears to support the presence of a model of attention. However, a central question remains: does a controller of attention actually benefit by having access to an attention schema? We constructed an artificial deep Q-learning neural network agent that was trained to control a simple form of visuospatial attention, tracking a stimulus with an attention spotlight in order to solve a catch task. The agent was tested with and without access to an attention schema. In both conditions, the agent received sufficient information such that it should, theoretically, be able to learn the task. We found that with an attention schema present, the agent learned to control its attention spotlight and learned the catch task. Once the agent learned, if the attention schema was then disabled, the agent's performance was greatly reduced. If the attention schema was removed before learning began, the agent was impaired at learning. The results show how the presence of even a simple attention schema can provide a profound benefit to a controller of attention. We interpret these results as supporting the central argument of AST: the brain contains an attention schema because of its practical benefit in the endogenous control of attention.
在注意模式理论（AST）中，大脑构建了一个注意模型，即注意模式，以帮助内源性地控制注意力。越来越多的行为证据似乎支持存在注意模型。然而，一个核心问题仍然存在：注意力的控制器实际上是否受益于访问注意模式？我们构建了一个人工深度 Q 学习神经网络代理，该代理经过训练可以控制一种简单的视空间注意力，通过注意力聚光灯跟踪刺激，以解决捕捉任务。该代理在有和没有注意模式的情况下进行了测试。在这两种情况下，代理都收到了足够的信息，理论上它应该能够学习任务。我们发现，在存在注意模式的情况下，代理学会了控制其注意力聚光灯并学会了捕捉任务。一旦代理学会了，如果禁用注意模式，代理的性能会大大降低。如果在学习开始之前移除注意模式，代理在学习时就会受到损害。结果表明，即使是一个简单的注意模式的存在，也可以为注意力的控制器提供深远的好处。我们将这些结果解释为支持 AST 的核心论点：大脑中存在注意模式，是因为它在注意力的内源性控制中具有实际的益处。
