Comparing the Neural Correlates of Conscious and Unconscious Conflict Control in a Masked Stroop Priming Task
Jun Jiang, Kira Bailey, L. Xiang, Li Zhang, Qing-Lin Zhang
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 20, 2016 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00297 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational neuroimaging study using rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | 24 human participants performing a masked Stroop priming task |
| Key findings | Both conscious and unconscious Stroop priming activated a fronto-parietal conflict network, including medial frontal cortex, left and right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. Activations in medial frontal cortex and left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex were smaller for unconscious than conscious priming. The authors argue this indicates quantitative rather than qualitative differences between the neural substrates of conscious and unconscious conflict control. |
Abstract
Although previous studies have suggested that conflict control can occur in the absence of consciousness, the brain mechanisms underlying unconscious and conscious conflict control remain unclear. The current study used a rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging design to collect data from 24 participants while they performed a masked Stroop priming task under both conscious and unconscious conditions. The results revealed that the fronto-parietal conflict network, including medial frontal cortex (MFC), left and right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), was activated by both conscious and unconscious Stroop priming, even though in MFC and left DLPFC the activations elicited by unconscious Stroop priming were smaller than conscious Stroop priming. The findings provide evidence for the existence of quantitative differences between the neural substrates of conscious and unconscious conflict control.