Project
The neural signature of human (sub)conscious visual processing
The concept of subconscious information processing has intrigued
investigators from different research disciplines for a long time. Visual
input can be dissociated from perceptual awareness through different
stimulus presentation paradigms to study subconscious visual
processing. Until now, these paradigms were mainly a research topic
in human cognitive psychology and non-human primate
electrophysiology. Neurobehavioral and fMRI studies in humans
suggest the presence of subconscious information processing in
certain brain areas. Human electrophysiological research to study
conscious and subconscious visual processing, however, remains
scarce to non-existent. Recent advances in the research field paved
the way to study visual processing in humans though multi-electrode
arrays, on top of the conventional registrations through depth
electrodes and electrocorticography (ECoG). We therefore aim to
elucidate the mechanisms of both conscious and subconscious visual
processing in humans in different brain areas through invasive brain
registrations.