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Updated: May 14, 2026
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Visualizing Visual Adaptation
Published on: April 24, 2017
Comparing conscious and unconscious conflict adaptation
Kobe Desender1, Elke Van Lierde, Eva Van den Bussche
1Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Kobe.Desender@vub.ac.be
Plos One
|February 14, 2013
Summary
Cognitive control, like conflict adaptation, can occur even without consciousness. This study found that adaptation to unconscious conflict demonstrates that this cognitive function is not exclusive to conscious awareness.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy of mind
Background:
- The role of consciousness in cognitive control, particularly conflict adaptation, is debated.
- Previous research on unconscious conflict adaptation yielded contradictory results.
- Existing studies often lacked controls or varied stimulus presentation, complicating interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether unconscious information can elicit cognitive control, specifically conflict adaptation.
- To clarify the role of consciousness in conflict adaptation.
- To examine the origin and nature of conflict adaptation effects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a masked (unconscious) and unmasked (conscious) priming paradigm.
- Manipulated conflict trials (prime and target trigger opposing responses) and neutral trials.
- Maintained constant Stimulus Onset Asynchrony across conditions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated robust conflict adaptation effects for both conscious and unconscious conflict.
- Found that adaptation primarily reduces interference, rather than enhancing facilitation.
- Results indicate adaptation to unconscious conflict is reliable.
Conclusions:
- Conflict adaptation is not exclusively a function of consciousness.
- Cognitive control mechanisms can operate effectively on unconsciously processed information.
- Unconscious conflict adaptation suggests a broader capacity for cognitive regulation than previously assumed.
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