Preference suppression caused by misattribution of task-irrelevant subliminal motion

Proc Biol Sci. 2012 Sep 7;279(1742):3443-8. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.0797. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

It is well known that subjects tend to misattribute task-irrelevant signals, incorporating them into the information on which a decision is made. Such misattribution has been reported to originate only from a social or a cognitive stage of information processing. However, we provide the initial evidence that misattribution also originates at a lower, visuomotor stage. This type of misattribution occurs only when subjects do not notice a visuomotor conflict. Misattribution at a social or a cognitive stage facilitates decision-making if the misattributed information is consistent with the decision and impedes decision-making if the information is in conflict with the decision. However, misattribution originating at a visuomotor stage only impedes decision-making, suggesting a fundamental difference between the mechanisms for the two types of misattribution. Furthermore, misattribution effects that originate in a visuomotor interaction stage also affect subjective preference ratings, suggesting that the misattribution exerts an influence on global brain processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attention
  • Boston
  • Cognition
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Cues
  • Decision Making*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Massachusetts
  • Subliminal Stimulation
  • Visual Perception*
  • Young Adult