Can one suppress subliminal words?
Subliminal words cause behavioral priming, yet the depth of their processing remains debated. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Nakamura et al. demonstrate in this issue of Neuron that this subliminal priming effect can be selectively disrupted. Distinct TMS sites disrupt priming in lexical decision and pronunciation tasks, suggesting that task set influences subliminal processing.
Dehaene
Stanislas
S
INSERM, Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Orsay, France.
Naccache
Lionel
L
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation