title: Priority of face perception during subliminal stimulation using a new color-opponent flicker stimulation.
abstract: We developed a new method of color-opponent flicker (COF) stimulation, and investigated behavioral responses for object discrimination at the around threshold frequency of COF stimulation. Pairs of figures, a face, flower, the letter "G" and a random pattern, were drawn with a red and green checkerboard with a black mesh. COF stimulation was produced by presenting pairs of figures alternately (red-green-red-green-) at various frequencies (30-120 Hz). A discrimination task for objects during COF stimulation was performed by 16 healthy subjects. Threshold frequency of COF stimulation was between 50 and 75 Hz. The accuracy rate for face discrimination was significantly higher than those for other objects (p<0.01, ANOVA with Fisher's PLSD multiple comparisons test). The present COF stimulation technique could be useful to investigate subliminal processes of the visual system, and the present results indicate a higher sensitivity and selectivity for face discrimination than those for other objects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan. hosiyama@met.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshiyama
authors.forename: Ryusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakigi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Kensaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005425:Flicker Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation