Later Positivity Reflects Post-perceptual Processes: Evidence From Immediate Detection and Delayed Detection Tasks.

Electrophysiological recordings identified two neural correlates of visual awareness: visual awareness negativity (VAN) and later positivity (LP). In immediate and delayed detection tasks, VAN amplitude over posterior temporal and occipital areas remained unchanged by task timing, whereas LP amplitude over parietal, posterior temporal, and occipital areas was reduced during delayed detection between 650-850 ms. These findings indicate VAN reflects early visual awareness, while LP represents post-perceptual processes involved in reporting awareness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Electrophysiological recordings are usually used to study neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs). The aim of our present study was to use two detection tasks to dissociate the electrophysiological correlates of visual awareness from the post-perceptual processes. In immediate detection task, participants had to quickly report whether the stimulus was presented after stimulus, whereas in delayed detection task, participants had to put off reporting whether the stimulus was presented after stimulus. The results showed that two previously frequently observed electrophysiological NCCs were observed: visual awareness negativity (VAN) and later positivity (LP). Importantly, the amplitude of VAN over posterior temporal and occipital areas was not influenced by the task manipulation. However, the amplitude of LP over parietal, posterior temporal and occipital areas was influenced by the task manipulation during 650-850 ms. These data suggest that VAN is an early electrophysiological correlates of visual awareness, and LP reflects post-perceptual processes required in reporting perceptual awareness.