Does subliminal visual perception have an error-monitoring system?
There is substantial evidence that subliminal stimuli, i.e. stimuli that cannot be perceived consciously, may influence visually guided human behaviour. Two important points require further investigation, namely, the neural bases and the functional capability of unconscious stimulus processing. In this study we aimed at studying one specific aspect of the latter question, i.e. whether unconscious vision can feed into an error-monitoring system in much the same way as conscious vision. We therefore tested whether the event-related potential component known as error-related negativity, which represents the electrophysiological correlate of an error-monitoring system, is produced by unconscious errors. We found an error-related negativity not only for errors committed in a discrimination task with visible stimuli but also for those committed with subthreshold stimuli. Moreover, behavioural analysis showed post-error slowing of reaction time for correct responses following unconscious as well as conscious errors. Thus, the present results provide both electrophysiological and behavioural evidence of an error-monitoring system operating even when stimuli cannot access consciousness.
Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, Verona, Italy.
Enea Francesco
EF
Pavone
Carlo Alberto
CA
Marzi
Massimo
M
Girelli
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*