Abstract: The FINST model is a new theory explaining how human represent the outer world. Based on the context of index theory, some hypotheses of FINST and its experimental demonstrations in different paradigms such as multiple object tracking, line-illusory motion, pre-conceptual selection and subitizing are formulated in details. Then, some applicable areas including special education, human-computer interaction and linguistics are introduced. At last, some suggestions are put forward as to challenges to the basic hypotheses made by recent findings.

Key words: representation, index, object, multiple object tracking (MOT)