  Attention is an indispensable component of active vision. Contrary to the
widely accepted notion that temporal cortex processing primarily focusses on
passive object recognition, a series of very recent studies emphasize the role
of temporal cortex structures, specifically the superior temporal sulcus (STS)
and inferotemporal (IT) cortex, in guiding attention and implementing cognitive
programs relevant for behavioral tasks. The goal of this theoretical paper is
to advance the hypothesis that the temporal cortex attention network (TAN)
entails necessary components to actively participate in attentional control in
a flexible task-dependent manner. First, we will briefly discuss the general
architecture of the temporal cortex with a focus on the STS and IT cortex of
monkeys and their modulation with attention. Then we will review evidence from
behavioral and neurophysiological studies that support their guidance of
attention in the presence of cognitive control signals. Next, we propose a
mechanistic framework for executive control of attention in the temporal
cortex. Finally, we summarize the role of temporal cortex in implementing
cognitive programs and discuss how they contribute to the dynamic nature of
visual attention to ensure flexible behavior.
