Reading and doing arithmetic nonconsciously
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Reading and doing arithmetic nonconsciously. / Sklar, Asael Y; Levy, Nir; Goldstein, Ariel; Mandel, Roi; Maril, Anat; Hassin, Ran R.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 109, No. 48, 2012, p. 19614-9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Reading and doing arithmetic nonconsciously
AU - Sklar, Asael Y
AU - Levy, Nir
AU - Goldstein, Ariel
AU - Mandel, Roi
AU - Maril, Anat
AU - Hassin, Ran R
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The modal view in the cognitive and neural sciences holds that consciousness is necessary for abstract, symbolic, and rule-following computations. Hence, semantic processing of multiple-word expressions, and performing of abstract mathematical computations, are widely believed to require consciousness. We report a series of experiments in which we show that multiple-word verbal expressions can be processed outside conscious awareness and that multistep, effortful arithmetic equations can be solved unconsciously. All experiments used Continuous Flash Suppression to render stimuli invisible for relatively long durations (up to 2,000 ms). Where appropriate, unawareness was verified using both objective and subjective measures. The results show that novel word combinations, in the form of expressions that contain semantic violations, become conscious before expressions that do not contain semantic violations, that the more negative a verbal expression is, the more quickly it becomes conscious, and that subliminal arithmetic equations prime their results. These findings call for a significant update of our view of conscious and unconscious processes.
AB - The modal view in the cognitive and neural sciences holds that consciousness is necessary for abstract, symbolic, and rule-following computations. Hence, semantic processing of multiple-word expressions, and performing of abstract mathematical computations, are widely believed to require consciousness. We report a series of experiments in which we show that multiple-word verbal expressions can be processed outside conscious awareness and that multistep, effortful arithmetic equations can be solved unconsciously. All experiments used Continuous Flash Suppression to render stimuli invisible for relatively long durations (up to 2,000 ms). Where appropriate, unawareness was verified using both objective and subjective measures. The results show that novel word combinations, in the form of expressions that contain semantic violations, become conscious before expressions that do not contain semantic violations, that the more negative a verbal expression is, the more quickly it becomes conscious, and that subliminal arithmetic equations prime their results. These findings call for a significant update of our view of conscious and unconscious processes.
KW - Adult
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Mathematics
KW - Mental Processes
KW - Reading
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1211645109
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1211645109
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23150541
VL - 109
SP - 19614
EP - 19619
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 48
ER -
ID: 381234320