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Computational Model of Spatial Auditory Attention in ACT-R

Abstract

We present an extension to the ACT-R audition module developed to support models of spatial auditory attention. Thisextension adds support for spatial sounds and models a gradient of spatial auditory attention over 180 in the frontalhorizontal plane. This spatial gradient represents the attentional bias created from interaction between top-down (goaldriven) attention and bottom-up (salient) attention, represented by a Gaussian and inverse Gaussian curve respectively.Response time to a sound is modeled using a calculated attentional bias, affected by the current goal location and thesound location. This ACT-R extension is used to model a behavioral task where subjects were told to attend to a spatiallocation and respond to sounds at attended and distractor locations. By incorporating this model into ACT-R, we will gaininsights into the interaction between spatial auditory attention and other other cognitive processes, such as learning andmemory.

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