Abstract: This study aims at investigating whether masked numerical primes can activate cognitive processes in semantic level without gaining access to consciousness. Ss were 56 university students (Exp 1, 2 and 3) in Tianjin Normal University, China. The experimental software E prime was used to control the presentation of stimuli to participants. In Exp 1, it was confirmed that the masked numerical primes presented for 30ms could not reach awareness level via signal detection techniques. In Exp 2, the primes and the targets were the same numerals and the subjects were simply told to classify the target as larger or smaller than 5. With multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), the priming effects were investigated at different priming conditions with either the prime number or the target number presented as an Arabic digit or a Chinese character. The results showed that the unseen numerical prime could facilitate or inhibit the subsequent processing of the target. In Exp3, priming remained significant under all conditions even when the primes and the targets belonged to two different stimulus serials. It is suggested that unconscious utilization of semantic information without awareness does exist.

Key words: brain, visual perception, unconsciousness, priming