Editing Parallel processing (psychology) (section)

== Limitations ==
Limitations of parallel processing have been brought up in several analytical studies. The main limitations highlighted include capacity limits of the brain, [[attentional blink]] rate interferences, limited processing capabilities, and information limitations in visual searches.

There are processing limits to the brain in the execution of complex tasks like [[Visual object recognition (animal test)|object recognition]]. All parts of the brain cannot process at full capacity in a parallel method. Attention controls the allocation of resources to the tasks. To work efficiently, attention must be guided from object to object.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wolfe|first=Jeremy M.|date=August 1992|title=The Parallel Guidance of Visual Attention|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10769733|journal=Current Directions in Psychological Science|volume=1|issue=4|pages=124–128|doi=10.1111/1467-8721.ep10769733|s2cid=15808488 |issn=0963-7214}}</ref>

These limits to attentional resources sometimes lead to ''serial bottlenecks'' in parallel processing, meaning that parallel processing is obstructed by serial processing in between. However, there is evidence for coexistence of serial and parallel processes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sigman|first1=Mariano|last2=Dehaene|first2=Stanislas|date=2008-07-23|title=Brain Mechanisms of Serial and Parallel Processing during Dual-Task Performance|url=https://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/30/7585|journal=Journal of Neuroscience|language=en|volume=28|issue=30|pages=7585–7598|doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0948-08.2008|issn=0270-6474|pmid=18650336|pmc=6670853 }}</ref>

=== Feature integration theory ===
The [[feature integration theory]] by Anne Treisman is one of the theories that integrates serial and parallel processing while taking into account attentional resources. It consists of two stages-

# ''Detection of features-'' This stage occurs instantaneously and uses parallel processing. In this step, all the basic features of a display are picked up simultaneously, even if attention is being paid to a specific object.
# ''Integration of features-'' This step is more time-consuming and uses serial processing. It leads to the [[perception]] of whole objects and patterns.<ref>{{Citation|title=Features and Objects in Visual Processing|date=2002|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/3080.003.0025|work=Foundations of Cognitive Psychology|publisher=The MIT Press|doi=10.7551/mitpress/3080.003.0025 |isbn=9780262278263 |access-date=2022-02-16}}</ref>