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Minimal exposure durations reveal visual processing priorities for different stimulus attributes

Author

Listed:
  • Renzo C. Lanfranco

    (University of Edinburgh
    171 65
    Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Andrés Canales-Johnson

    (University of Cambridge
    Universidad Católica del Maule)

  • Hugh Rabagliati

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Axel Cleeremans

    (Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • David Carmel

    (University of Edinburgh
    Victoria University of Wellington)

Abstract

Human vision can detect a single photon, but the minimal exposure required to extract meaning from stimulation remains unknown. This requirement cannot be characterised by stimulus energy, because the system is differentially sensitive to attributes defined by configuration rather than physical amplitude. Determining minimal exposure durations required for processing various stimulus attributes can thus reveal the system’s priorities. Using a tachistoscope enabling arbitrarily brief displays, we establish minimal durations for processing human faces, a stimulus category whose perception is associated with several well-characterised behavioural and neural markers. Neural and psychophysical measures show a sequence of distinct minimal exposures for stimulation detection, object-level detection, face-specific processing, and emotion-specific processing. Resolving ongoing debates, face orientation affects minimal exposure but emotional expression does not. Awareness emerges with detection, showing no evidence of subliminal perception. These findings inform theories of visual processing and awareness, elucidating the information to which the visual system is attuned.

Suggested Citation

  • Renzo C. Lanfranco & Andrés Canales-Johnson & Hugh Rabagliati & Axel Cleeremans & David Carmel, 2024. "Minimal exposure durations reveal visual processing priorities for different stimulus attributes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52778-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52778-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Claire Sergent & Martina Corazzol & Ghislaine Labouret & François Stockart & Mark Wexler & Jean-Rémi King & Florent Meyniel & Daniel Pressnitzer, 2021. "Bifurcation in brain dynamics reveals a signature of conscious processing independent of report," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Arnaud Beauny & Adélaïde de Heering & Santiago Muñoz Moldes & Jean-Rémy Martin & Albert de Beir & Axel Cleeremans, 2020. "Unconscious categorization of sub-millisecond complex images," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Jonathan N. Tinsley & Maxim I. Molodtsov & Robert Prevedel & David Wartmann & Jofre Espigulé-Pons & Mattias Lauwers & Alipasha Vaziri, 2016. "Direct detection of a single photon by humans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, November.
    4. J. S. Morris & A. Öhman & R. J. Dolan, 1998. "Conscious and unconscious emotional learning in the human amygdala," Nature, Nature, vol. 393(6684), pages 467-470, June.
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