There are image category invariant markers of conscious perception

What is it about?

Using contrastive experimental approach, we showed that the ERP markers N200 and P3b show an increased amplitude when the target stimulus is consciously perceived compared to when it remains unconscious. By widely varying the visual categories and individual identities of the target stimuli we show that there are category-invariant markers of conscious perception. We also show that conscious perception has more electroencephalographic signatures than just P3b and that some of these signatures indicate faster delay to consciousness than the delay märked by P3b (P300). The results also support the notion of ERP negativity as a marker of phenomenal consciousness.

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Why is it important?

Supports (1) the principle of existence of stimulus category-invariant markers of conscious perception; (2) the stance that stimuli become consciously perceived fast and probably at the early stages of the perceptual process; (3) there are several markers of conscious perception; (4) subjective clarity of conscious perception and objective performance can be assessed independently.