Is perception discrete or continuous?
Abstract
How does conscious perception evolve following stimulus presentation? The idea that perception relies on discrete processing epochs has been often considered, but never widely accepted. The alternative, a continuous translation of the external world into explicit perception, although more intuitive and subjectively appealing, cannot satisfactorily account for a large body of psychophysical data. Cortical and thalamocortical oscillations in different frequency bands could provide a neuronal basis for such discrete processes, but are rarely analyzed in this context. This article reconciles the unduly abandoned topic of discrete perception with current views and advances in neuroscience.
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Slower periods, e.g. 4 to 7 Hz theta frequency, with nested gamma waves could correspond to saccades and visual gestalts.
“Slower periods, e.g. 4 to 7 Hz theta frequency, with nested gamma waves could correspond to saccades and visual gestalts [31,32] (Fig. 11).”
From Consciousness in the universe (2014) · cites this paper as [32]
Conscious moments such as visual gestalts may be slower events, correlating with 4 to 7 Hz theta frequency, with nested gamma waves.
“Another possibility is that conscious moments such as visual gestalts may be slower events, e.g.correlating with 4 to 7 Hz theta frequency, with nested gamma waves [31,32] (Fig. 11).”
From Consciousness in the universe (2014) · cites this paper as [32]
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- Authors
- VanRullen, R., & Koch, C.
- Venue
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 207-213
- ISSN
- 1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2123571009
- Cited by
- 662
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 56 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 1.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Keywords
- conscious perception, cortical oscillations, thalamocortical oscillations, frequency bands, psychophysics
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