Stratification in Cognition and Consciousness

Book excerpt: The notion of stratification has played an important role in linguistics and evolutionary studies for some time, but its role in cognitive science has not yet been well articulated and identified. What is meant by stratification? What is the role and value of stratification in the contemporary study of cognition and consciousness? This collective volume speaks to these questions. The twelve articles in the book cover a range of relevant issues including (a) the vertical dimension and modularity of visual processing, search and attention, (b) the stratification of encoding and retrieval processes in memory, (c) the hierarchical nature of conscious and unconscious components of memory, and (d) the levels of awareness and varieties of conscious experience. The volume presents stimulating and self-contained articles for researchers and students of experimental psychology and neuroscience, and is suitable for an advanced university course. (Series B)