Implicit bias training can remove bias from subliminal stimuli, restoring choice divergence: A proof-of-concept study.

Koenig-Robert, R; El Omar, H; Pearson, J

Implicit bias training can remove bias from subliminal stimuli, restoring choice divergence: A proof-of-concept study.

Koenig-Robert, R El Omar, H Pearson, J

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Publisher:: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS One, 2023, 18, (7), pp. e0289313
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Koenig-Robert, R
dc.contributor.author	El Omar, H
dc.contributor.author	Pearson, J
dc.contributor.editor	Young, KD
dc.date.accessioned	2024-02-11T23:48:14Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-14
dc.date.available	2024-02-11T23:48:14Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS One, 2023, 18, (7), pp. e0289313
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175564
dc.description.abstract	Subliminal information can influence our conscious life. Subliminal stimuli can influence cognitive tasks, while endogenous subliminal neural information can sway decisions before volition. Are decisions inextricably biased towards subliminal information? Or can they diverge away from subliminal biases via training? We report that implicit bias training can remove biases from subliminal sensory primes. We first show that subliminal stimuli biased an imagery-content decision task. Participants (n = 17) had to choose one of two different patterns to subsequently imagine. Subliminal primes significantly biased decisions towards imagining the primed option. Then, we trained participants (n = 7) to choose the non-primed option, via post choice feedback. This training was successful despite participants being unaware of the purpose or structure of the reward schedule. This implicit bias training persisted up to one week later. Our proof-of-concept study indicates that decisions might not always have to be biased towards non-conscious information, but instead can diverge from subliminal primes through training.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS One
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0289313
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	Copyright: © 2023 Koenig-Robert et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Bias, Implicit
dc.subject.mesh	Subliminal Stimulation
dc.subject.mesh	Volition
dc.subject.mesh	Bias
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Subliminal Stimulation
dc.subject.mesh	Volition
dc.subject.mesh	Bias
dc.subject.mesh	Bias, Implicit
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Bias, Implicit
dc.subject.mesh	Subliminal Stimulation
dc.subject.mesh	Volition
dc.subject.mesh	Bias
dc.title	Implicit bias training can remove bias from subliminal stimuli, restoring choice divergence: A proof-of-concept study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	18
utslib.location.activity	United States
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-02-11T23:48:13Z
pubs.issue	7
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	18
utslib.citation.issue	7

Abstract:

Subliminal information can influence our conscious life. Subliminal stimuli can influence cognitive tasks, while endogenous subliminal neural information can sway decisions before volition. Are decisions inextricably biased towards subliminal information? Or can they diverge away from subliminal biases via training? We report that implicit bias training can remove biases from subliminal sensory primes. We first show that subliminal stimuli biased an imagery-content decision task. Participants (n = 17) had to choose one of two different patterns to subsequently imagine. Subliminal primes significantly biased decisions towards imagining the primed option. Then, we trained participants (n = 7) to choose the non-primed option, via post choice feedback. This training was successful despite participants being unaware of the purpose or structure of the reward schedule. This implicit bias training persisted up to one week later. Our proof-of-concept study indicates that decisions might not always have to be biased towards non-conscious information, but instead can diverge from subliminal primes through training.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175564