title: Unconscious addition: when we unconsciously initiate and follow arithmetic rules.
abstract: This research shows that people can unconsciously initiate and follow arithmetic rules (e.g., addition). Participants were asked to detect whether a symbol was a digit. This symbol was preceded by 2 digits and a subliminal instruction: add or a control instruction. Participants were faster at identifying a symbol as a number when the symbol was equal to the sum of the 2 digits and they received the instruction to add the digits, suggesting that people can unconsciously solve arithmetic problems. Experiments 2 and 3 replicate these findings and demonstrate that the underlying processes can operate when the to-be-added digits are not perceived consciously. Thus, the unconscious can do (at least simple) arithmetic, such as addition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bordeaux, France. francois.ric@u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ric
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult