Neural correlates of subliminal and supraliminal letter processing--an event-related fMRI study.

Full Abstract

One problem of interpreting research on subconscious processing is the possibility that participants are weakly conscious of the stimuli. Here, we compared the fMRI BOLD response in healthy adults to clearly visible single letters (supraliminal presentation) with the response to letters presented in the absence of any behavioural evidence of visibility (subliminal presentation). No letter catch trials served as a control condition. Forced-choice responses did not differ from chance when letter-to-background contrast was low, whereas they were almost 100% correct when contrast was high. A comparison of fMRI BOLD signals for supraliminal and subliminal letters with the control trials revealed a signal increase in left BA 37 (fusiform gyrus). Comparison of supraliminal with subliminal letters showed a significant increase in the right inferior frontal gyrus (BA 44, partly extending to BA 9 and BA 45, as well as BA 46). Finally, a comparison of subliminal with supraliminal letters showed increases in the left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21) and the right extrastriate cortex (BA 19).

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Author information

Author/s: Heinzel, A (A); Hautzel, H (H); Poeppel, T D (TD); Boers, F (F); Beu, M (M); Mueller, H-W (HW);

Affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Leo-Brandt-Street, Düsseldorf, D-52426 Jülich, Germany. a.heinzel(-atsign-)fz-juelich.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Consciousness and cognition (Conscious Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 17 (issue 3) : pp 685-99

Dates: Created 2008/07/21; Completed 2008/10/02;

PMID: 18331801, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Brain - physiology
Humans
Linguistics

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