The theory of multistage integration in the visual brain

The theory of multistage integration is based on evidence that the visual b rain consists of several parallel multistage processing systems, each speci alized for a given attribute such as colour or motion. Each stage of a give n system processes information at a distinct level of complexity. Our theor y supposes that activity at any stage of a given multistage processing syst em is perceptually explicit-that is to say, it requires no further processi ng to generate a conscious experience. This activity can be integrated, or bound, with the perceptually explicit activity at any given stage of anothe r or the same multistage processing system. Such binding is therefore not a process that generates a conscious experience, but rather one that brings different conscious experiences together. Many perceptual advantages result from such a flexible and dynamic integrative system. Conversely there woul d be disadvantages to limiting perception and binding to hypothetical 'term inal' stages of such processing systems or to hypothetical 'integrator' are as. Although we formulate our hypothesis in terms of the visual brain, we b elieve it might form a general principle of brain functioning.