The researches about selective attention showed great emphasis on the study of low-level and mid-level processing of visual information, using relatively simple visual stimulus (letters, numbers and geometric shapes). However, there are an increasing number of studies about the influence of high-level information on the selection with complex scenes in natural contexts. The aim to present article is review the relevant studies about this area and highlight the differences between the discrete process model, which predicts that high-level information is processed in the late stages, and the early model that predicts an influence of high-level information on early visual selection.
Selective attention; Visual search; High-level information