Abstract: Because the processing capacity of the visual system is limited, selective attention to one stimulus comes at the cost of neglecting other stimuli. A large body of evidence has demonstrated that emotional information was an exception to attentional modulation and processing of emotional information is considered to be automatic. But recent neuroimaging studies found that emotional processing needs attention. We discussed two controversial aspects concerning automatic emotion processing: the slow-cortical and fast-subcotical pathways and evidence from blindsight patients.

Key words: biased competition model of attention, amygdale, emotional valence, visual awareness