States of Awareness I: Subliminal Perception Relationship to SituationalAwareness

摘要

On the face of it, subliminal perception violates common sense. How can astimulus for which you have no knowledge make any difference. In its simplest terms, the answer is as follows: (1) when you have a known stimulus at a known intensity; (2) which is at or below the level of conscious awareness; and (3) behavior on a concurrent or subsequent task is modified; then (4) you have a subliminal perception. This report reviews and integrates the literature on subliminal perception. We review the history (early research was weak) and theoretical roots. Then we examine in detail the five prominent methodologies: signal detection, dual channel, masking, lexical decision, and neurophysiologic, the latter very briefly. The main part of the review addresses two major areas: Subthreshold information acquisition and subconscious information processing. Current criticisms are examined. Operational relevance is discussed. The significance of subliminal perception for operational applications is that it provides a methodological basis for one kind of training to enhance situational awareness.... Cognitive processing, States of awareness, Human performance, Subliminal perception, Situational awareness.