[Conditioned reflex mechanism of unconscious decision making]

Temporary connections are elaborated in adult subjects between subliminal visual stimuli and voluntary motor reaction. The observed gradual shortening of the reaction time is considered to be a result of learning by means of subliminal visual signals. This learning is unstable and is retained only in the short-term memory, unlike experiments in which the same visual stimuli are recognized. This fact explains discrepancies and uncertainty of the existing opinions on the role of subliminal visual signals in the voluntary behaviour of man.