A key property of neural processing in higher mammals is the ability to focus resources by selectively directing attention to relevant perceptions, thoughts or actions. This encyclopedic volume contains over 100 chapters organized into thematic sections, and summarizes the developments in attention research.

Attention research has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades, as new experimental techniques and modeling tools have become available to study higher brain function in humans, non-human primates, and other mammals. While there are a number of books covering specific attention-related subjects, currently no one comprehensive reference exists on the subject. This book aims to become the definitive reference handbook on the neurobiology of attention. It provides numerous short articles specifically focused on one detailed area, with "roadmap" commentaries integrating the articles by identifying themes and inter-relationships among them. The articles will include both introductory and review material, ideal for students and cross-disciplinary study, as well as the most recent research results appealing to specialists in the field.