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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Aware and Unaware Fear Memory with fMRI
Published on: October 6, 2011
Neural bases of the non-conscious perception of emotional signals
Marco Tamietto1, Beatrice de Gelder
1Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. M.Tamietto@uvt.nl
Abstract:
Many emotional stimuli are processed without being consciously perceived. Recent evidence indicates that subcortical structures have a substantial role in this processing. These structures are part of a phylogenetically ancient pathway that has specific functional properties and that interacts with cortical processes. There is now increasing evidence that non-consciously perceived emotional stimuli induce distinct neurophysiological changes and influence behaviour towards the consciously perceived world. Understanding the neural bases of the non-conscious perception of emotional signals will clarify the phylogenetic continuity of emotion systems across species and the integration of cortical and subcortical activity in the human brain.
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