Perceptionnotice

Perceptionnotice is a term used in theoretical discussions of perception and attention to describe the moment when a sensory input is not only detected but marked for further processing or conscious awareness. It highlights a transition from mere detection to a salient, reportable experience within cognitive processing. The phrase blends perception with notice to emphasize that a stimulus has crossed a threshold from undifferentiated input to something that stands out in awareness or working memory.

Etymology and scope: Perceptionnotice is a coinage rather than an established technical term. It appears in some cognitive science essays and thought experiments as a way to discuss the boundary between unconscious sensory registration and conscious access. The concept is intended to capture both perceptual encoding and the subsequent prioritization that leads to attentive processing.

Theoretical framework and mechanism: The notion is compatible with models that separate detection from conscious access, such as global workspace theories. A perceptionnotice event is typically conceived as involving early sensory encoding, selective attention, and the engagement of working memory or executive monitoring. Neural correlates may vary by modality but are often discussed in relation to late-stage components associated with conscious processing (for example, event-related potentials in EEG studies) rather than initial sensory responses.

Usage and measurement: Perceptionnotice is used to discuss thresholds for conscious perception, salience-driven attention, and the conditions under which a stimulus becomes reportable. Researchers might infer perceptionnotice from subjective reports, reaction time, accuracy in detection tasks, or neural evidence of increased processing.

Criticism and alternatives: Some scholars view the term as redundant with existing concepts like conscious perception or awareness. Others prefer precise operational definitions tied to specific experimental paradigms.

See also: conscious perception, attention, salience, subliminal perception, global workspace.