Unconscious numerical priming despite interocular suppression

Bahrami, B., Vetter, P., Spolaore, E., Pagano, S., Butterworth, B. and Rees, G. (2010) Unconscious numerical priming despite interocular suppression. Psychological Science, 21(2), pp. 224-233. (doi: 10.1177/0956797609360664)

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Abstract

Whether high-level properties of stimuli rendered invisible by interocular competition can influence perception and behaviour remains controversial. Here, we studied whether suppressed and invisible symbolic and non-symbolic numerical stimuli can elicit priming. First, we established that participants were objectively unable to discriminate numerical prime stimuli when interocular suppression rendered them invisible. Participants then enumerated a visible target set of items after being exposed to this suppressed, invisible (non-symbolic or symbolic) prime set. Both symbolic and non-symbolic unconscious numerical primes induced robust priming effects specific to the target-prime distance. Relative to a no prime condition, primes larger than targets interfered with target enumeration and primes same as or smaller than targets facilitated target enumeration. Taken together, our findings present clear evidence for high level processing of stimuli rendered invisible through interocular suppression.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Vetter, Dr Petra
Authors: Bahrami, B., Vetter, P., Spolaore, E., Pagano, S., Butterworth, B., and Rees, G.
Subjects:B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
Journal Name:Psychological Science
ISSN:0956-7976
ISSN (Online):1467-9280
Published Online:19 January 2010

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