Research has shown that subjects can correctly identify an image despite reporting not having consciously seen the image. This implies that: :
Feed-forward networks can support complex visual decision-making in the absence of both attention and consciousness
Top-down processes are necessary for spatial attention to occur in the presence or absence of conscious processing.
Attention is necessary for consciousness
Feed-forward networks do not support complex decision-making
Visual cortical areas are needed for processing information as well as attending to externally salient cues.