title: Subliminal stimuli modulate somatosensory perception rhythmically and provide evidence for discrete perception.
abstract: Despite being experienced as continuous, there is an ongoing debate if perception is an intrinsically discrete process, with incoming sensory information treated as a succession of single perceptual cycles. Here, we provide causal evidence that somatosensory perception is composed of discrete perceptual cycles. We used in humans an electrotactile temporal discrimination task preceded by a subliminal (i.e., below perceptual threshold) stimulus. Although not consciously perceived, subliminal stimuli are known to elicit neuronal activity in early sensory areas and modulate the phase of ongoing neuronal oscillations. We hypothesized that the subliminal stimulus indirectly, but systematically modulates the ongoing oscillatory phase in S1, thereby rhythmically shaping perception. The present results confirm that, without being consciously perceived, the subliminal stimulus critically influenced perception in the discrimination task. Importantly, perception was modulated rhythmically, in cycles corresponding to the beta-band (13-18 Hz). This can be compellingly explained by a model of discrete perceptual cycles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Baumgarten
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Königs
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
authors.forename: Alfons
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnitzler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010507:Periodicity; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation; D055698:Touch Perception