Dehaene, Changeaux, Naccache, Sackur, and Sergent (2006) proposed distinct modes of
information processing for perception and decision-making based on a combination of
stimulus strength and top-down attention. Three-stimulus strength thresholds follow from this
taxonomy, one of which is the objective threshold typically described by the “Weber-
Fechner-Law”. The current project aims to test the appropriateness of Dehaene et al.’s
taxonomy for representative and natural task environments. In particular, it aims to
understand the simultaneous contributions of the modes of processing on a soccer penalty
taker’s perception and decision-making. To this end, the project not only aims to uncover the
objective threshold between subliminal and no processing, but also the subjective threshold
between conscious and subliminal processing, and the threshold between preconscious and no
processing. In doing so, the current project will also examine the influence of situational
factors on the stimulus thresholds, such as task requirements, different instructions, and the
level of fatique and anxiety. Finally, the taxonomy will be used to examine the phenomena of
pseudo-neglect and perceptual accentuation that have recently been observed in natural task
situations. This will uncover how the distinct modes of conscious processing interact to
control perception and decision-making.

Publications:

Noel, B., van der Kamp, J., Weigelt, M., & Memmert, D. (2015). Asymmetries in spatial
perception are more prevalent under explicit than implicit attention. Consciousness &
Cognition, 34, 10-15.