Final answer:
In late selection models of attention, most incoming information is processed to the level of meaning, indicating a deeper cognitive processing occurs before applying the attentional filter.
Step-by-step explanation:
In late selection models of attention, most incoming information is processed to the level of meaning. This means that stimuli are not merely recognized for their sensory qualities but undergo a deeper level of cognitive processing, allowing them to be understood semantically before being accepted or rejected by the attentional filter.
Sensory memory plays a key role in this process by briefly storing sensory events like sights, sounds, and tastes. This information can then pass into short-term memory if it's deemed valuable, but otherwise, it may fade away. Late selection theories of attention differ from early selection models in which a selective filter acts much sooner, often before information is processed meaningfully. This difference is also evident in cortical processing within the brain, where sensory signals undergo primary processing, followed by associative and integrative processing.
Complex perception mechanisms such as top-down processing also contribute to how we select information for further processing. Top-down processing relies on previous experience and expectations to understand and prioritize incoming stimuli. This advanced processing allows us to focus on what's most important in an environment full of sensory information.