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Automatic unconscious knowledge
- Tsushima, Sasaki, & Watanabe (2006). Science, 314.
• Task-irrelevant sub-threshold coherent motion (irrelevant
signals) led to a stronger disturbance in task performance
than did supra-threshold motion (ineffective inhibitory
control).
– With the sub-threshold motion, activity in the visual
cortex (measured by fMRI), was higher, but activity in the
lateral prefrontal cortex was lower, than with suprathreshold motion. These results
• Summary: Unconscious and unattended information can
escape inhibitory control exerted by frontal areas and
influence conscious processing of stimuli more powerfully
than conscious stimuli.
• See also research on mirror neurons (automatic
unconscious knowledge of the intent of others at the