Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task

Abstract We perceive our surrounding as a continuous stream of information. Yet, it is under debate, whether our brain processes the incoming information continuously or rather in a discontinuous way. In recent years, the idea of rhythmic perception has regained popularity, assuming that parieto-occ...

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Main Authors: Michelle Johannknecht, Alfons Schnitzler, Joachim Lange
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85385-5
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author Michelle Johannknecht
Alfons Schnitzler
Joachim Lange
author_facet Michelle Johannknecht
Alfons Schnitzler
Joachim Lange
author_sort Michelle Johannknecht
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We perceive our surrounding as a continuous stream of information. Yet, it is under debate, whether our brain processes the incoming information continuously or rather in a discontinuous way. In recent years, the idea of rhythmic perception has regained popularity, assuming that parieto-occipital alpha oscillations are the neural mechanism defining the rhythmicity of visual perception. Consequently, behavioural response should also fluctuate in the rhythm of alpha oscillations (i.e., at ~ 10 Hz). To test this hypothesis, we employed a visual integration task. Crucially we investigated if a subliminal stimulus preceding the target stimulus modulates behaviour. Our results show that behaviour fluctuates as a function of delay between subliminal and target stimuli. These fluctuations were found in the range of theta, alpha and beta oscillations. Our results further support the idea, that alpha oscillations are a functional rhythm for visual perception, leading to rhythmic fluctuations of perception and behaviour. In addition, other frequencies seem to play a role for temporal perception.
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spelling doaj-art-427e7a6444a345298f326980a71e53522025-01-26T12:24:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-85385-5Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration taskMichelle Johannknecht0Alfons Schnitzler1Joachim Lange2Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfInstitute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfInstitute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfAbstract We perceive our surrounding as a continuous stream of information. Yet, it is under debate, whether our brain processes the incoming information continuously or rather in a discontinuous way. In recent years, the idea of rhythmic perception has regained popularity, assuming that parieto-occipital alpha oscillations are the neural mechanism defining the rhythmicity of visual perception. Consequently, behavioural response should also fluctuate in the rhythm of alpha oscillations (i.e., at ~ 10 Hz). To test this hypothesis, we employed a visual integration task. Crucially we investigated if a subliminal stimulus preceding the target stimulus modulates behaviour. Our results show that behaviour fluctuates as a function of delay between subliminal and target stimuli. These fluctuations were found in the range of theta, alpha and beta oscillations. Our results further support the idea, that alpha oscillations are a functional rhythm for visual perception, leading to rhythmic fluctuations of perception and behaviour. In addition, other frequencies seem to play a role for temporal perception.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85385-5
spellingShingle Michelle Johannknecht
Alfons Schnitzler
Joachim Lange
Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
Scientific Reports
title Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
title_full Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
title_fullStr Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
title_full_unstemmed Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
title_short Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
title_sort subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85385-5
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AT alfonsschnitzler subliminalvisualstimulationproducesbehaviouraloscillationsinmultiplefrequenciesinavisualintegrationtask
AT joachimlange subliminalvisualstimulationproducesbehaviouraloscillationsinmultiplefrequenciesinavisualintegrationtask