Object relations are processed with, but not without, awareness.
Neuroscience of consciousness January 1, 2025 Shaked Palgi, Tamara Bester-Arest, Nathan Faivre et al.
Unconscious mental processing may not extend to integrating relationships between objects. In five experiments, participants viewed pairs of objects that were either related (e.g., a lock and key) or unrelated, presented either visibly or invisibly through masking. When pairs were visible, behavioral priming and a larger N400 brain response occurred for unrelated versus related pairs, indicating relational processing. When pairs were invisible—verified by subjective and objective awareness measures—no differences in N400 amplitude were found, and decoding of pair relations from brain activity was no better than chance. The results suggest that consciousness is needed for integrating relationships beyond single objects, supporting theories that emphasize consciousness's role in relational integration.