Subliminal stimuli modulate somatosensory perception rhythmically and provide evidence for discrete perception
Subliminal stimuli modulate somatosensory perception rhythmically and provide evidence for discrete perception
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DOI：
10.1038/srep43937
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发表时间：
2017-03-09
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Lange, Joachim
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Baumgarten, Thomas J.;Koenigs, Sara;Lange, Joachim
尽管感知是连续的，但感知是否是一个本质上离散的过程，传入的感觉信息被视为一系列单一的感知周期，这一争论仍在继续。在这里，我们提供了体感知觉由离散的知觉周期组成的因果证据。我们在人类中使用了电触觉时间分辨任务，在任务之前有一个阈值下(即，低于知觉阈值)的刺激。虽然潜意识刺激不是有意识的，但已知的是，潜意识刺激可以在早期感觉区域引发神经元活动，并调节正在进行的神经元振荡的阶段。我们假设，潜意识刺激间接地，但系统地调节了S1正在进行的振荡阶段，从而有节奏地塑造知觉。本研究结果证实，在没有意识觉察的情况下，潜意识刺激对辨别任务中的知觉产生了严重影响。重要的是，知觉是有节奏地调制的，周期与β波段(13-18赫兹)相对应。这可以用离散感知周期的模型来令人信服地解释。
Despite being experienced as continuous, there is an ongoing debate if perception is an intrinsically discrete process, with incoming sensory information treated as a succession of single perceptual cycles. Here, we provide causal evidence that somatosensory perception is composed of discrete perceptual cycles. We used in humans an electrotactile temporal discrimination task preceded by a subliminal ( i.e., below perceptual threshold) stimulus. Although not consciously perceived, subliminal stimuli are known to elicit neuronal activity in early sensory areas and modulate the phase of ongoing neuronal oscillations. We hypothesized that the subliminal stimulus indirectly, but systematically modulates the ongoing oscillatory phase in S1, thereby rhythmically shaping perception. The present results confirm that, without being consciously perceived, the subliminal stimulus critically influenced perception in the discrimination task. Importantly, perception was modulated rhythmically, in cycles corresponding to the beta-band ( 13-18 Hz). This can be compellingly explained by a model of discrete perceptual cycles.