Understanding the allocation of attention when faced with varying perceptual load in partial report: A computational approach

► We compare allocation of attention in the load theory (Lavie, 1995) and a theory visual attention (Bundesen, 1990). ► We find that allocation of attention happens in a single step rather than in two steps. ► We show that the effects of varying perceptual load can only be explained by both allocation of processing capacity and limits in visual working memory. ► Finally, we link the results to processing capacity understood at the neural level.