Interaction Between Attention and Language Systems in Humans: A Cognitive Science Perspective

This original volume examines the interface between attentional and linguistic processes in humans from the perspectives of psycholinguistics and cognitive science. It systematically explores how autonomy and automaticity are reflected during language processing in a variety of situations. A true, mechanistic explanation of how humans process language would require a complete understanding of the interface language has with important cognitive systems like attention, memory, as well as with vision. Interdisciplinary work in this area has so far not been able to generate a substantial theoretical position on this issue.

This volume therefore looks at different language processing domains, such as speaking, listening, reading, as well as discourse and text processing, to evaluate the role attention plays in such performances; and also at how often linguistic inputs affect attentional processing. In this sense, it proposes that the attention--language interface is bidirectional.It also considers applied issues like language disorders, bilingualism and illiteracy, where the attention--language interface seems especially relevant as a theoretical apparatus for research investigations. Therefore, this volume brings closer theoretical explanations from the language sciences and cognitive sciences. It argues that language processing is multi-modal in its very essence and many conceptual structures in language evolve out of a complex interplay among participating cognitive systems such as attention and memory, supported by vision and audition.

Ramesh Kumar Mishra, PhD, is an associate professor of cognitive science at the Centre of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hyderabad. He has previously taught at the Centre for Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Allahabad. Dr. Mishra has published internationally and has edited/co-edited books in the areas of psycholinguistics, language-vision interaction and attention. His areas of interest include language-attention interaction, visual processing and action control. He has been a scientific visitor to the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Dalhousie University and the Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, among others. Dr. Mishra is on the editorial board of PLOS One, Frontiers in Cognition, and Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence. He is also a co-editor of the cognitive science journal Brain, Cognition and Culture. Dr. Mishra is a fellow of the Psychonomic Society, USA.