Effects of Subliminal Stimulation on Imagery and Discrimination

Abstract

In two separate investigations ( Ns = 13, 24), Ss drew spontaneously arising images after exposure of a subliminal visual stimulus. They then tried to discriminate the stimulus when it was again exposed subliminally. While the stimuli exerted a marked effect on Ss' images, they failed to influence Ss' discriminatory ability. It was concluded that a stimulus too faint to be consciously perceived can nevertheless have a pronounced effect on another mode of conscious experience—in this case, imagery.