Qualitative Differences Between Conscious and Nonconscious Processing? On Inverse Priming Induced by Masked Arrows

In general, both consciously and unconsciously perceived stimuli facilitate responses to following similar stimuli. However, masked arrows delay responses to following arrows. This inverse priming has been ascribed to inhibition of premature motor activation, more recently even to special processing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of experimental psychology. General Vol. 133; no. 4; pp. 494 - 504
Main Authors Verleger, Rolf, Jaskowski, Piotr, Aydemir, Aytac, van der Lubbe, Rob H. J, Groen, Margriet
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Psychological Association 01.12.2004
Subjects
Adult
Brain - physiology
Cognitive Processes
Discrimination (Psychology)
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Inhibition
Male
Measurement Techniques
Motor Reactions
Perceptual Masking
Reaction Time
Responses
Stimuli
Unconscious (Psychology)
Visual Perception
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Summary:In general, both consciously and unconsciously perceived stimuli facilitate responses to following similar stimuli. However, masked arrows delay responses to following arrows. This inverse priming has been ascribed to inhibition of premature motor activation, more recently even to special processing of nonconsciously perceived material. Here, inverse priming depended on particular masks, was insensitive to contextual requirements for increased inhibition, and was constant across response speeds. Putative signs of motor inhibition in the electroencephalogram may as well reflect activation of the opposite response. Consequently, rather than profiting from inhibition of primed responses, the alternative response is directly primed by perceptual interactions of primes and masks. Thus there is no need to assume separate pathways for nonconscious and conscious processing.
ISSN:0096-3445
DOI:10.1037/0096-3445.133.4.494