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Revisiting the metacontrast dissociation: comparing sensitivity across different measures and tasks
Ulrich Ansorge1, Stefanie I Becker, Bruno Breitmeyer
1Institute of Cognitive Science, Institute of Psychology, University of Osnabrueck, Seminarstrasse 20, Osnabrueck, Germany. ulrich.ansorge@uni-osnabrueck.de
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|July 9, 2008
Summary
Unconscious processing is supported, but residual conscious perception, specifically motion, can be detected in metacontrast tasks. This suggests current criteria for unconscious input may need revision.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Perception
Background:
- The metacontrast dissociation procedure suggests unconscious processing based on indirect measures.
- Previous studies indicated participants could not consciously detect masked primes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate residual conscious perception in the metacontrast dissociation procedure.
- To determine if motion perception can be consciously perceived between masked primes and visible targets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a metacontrast dissociation procedure with masked shape primes and visible shape targets.
- Employed hybrid direct/indirect measures to assess conscious perception.
- Conducted further tests to evaluate the role of motion perception in indirect measures.
Main Results:
- Participants consciously perceived motion between primes and targets, despite inability to report prime shapes.
- Residual motion perception did not fully explain performance in the indirect measure.
- The findings challenge the exhaustiveness of previous direct measures for unconscious input.
Conclusions:
- The concept of unconscious input processing remains viable.
- Criteria for assessing unconscious perception may require refinement.
- Conscious perception of motion offers a new avenue for understanding metacontrast effects.
