Correlates of implicit semantic processing as revealed by representational similarity analysis applied to EEG.

Most researchers agree that some stages of object recognition can proceed implicitly. Implicit recognition occurs when an object is automatically and unintentionally encoded and represented in the brain even though the object is irrelevant to the current task. No consensus has been reached as to what level of semantic abstraction processing can go implicitly.

Unconscious processing effects manifest only if conscious processing is excluded.

In their discussion paper Steinkrauss and Slotnick argue against a role for the hippocampus in unconscious memory formation and retrieval. Unfortunately, they omitted highly relevant evidence that supports a role for the hippocampus in unconscious memory. They criticize four articles, two from our laboratory, pointing out long-known confounds like residual consciousness.

Episodic long-term memory formation during slow-wave sleep.

We are unresponsive during slow-wave sleep but continue monitoring external events for survival. Our brain wakens us when danger is imminent. If events are non-threatening, our brain might store them for later consideration to improve decision-making.

Feasibility, efficacy, and functional relevance of automated auditory closed-loop suppression of slow-wave sleep in humans.

Slow-wave sleep (SWS) is a fundamental physiological process, and its modulation is of interest for basic science and clinical applications. However, automatised protocols for the suppression of SWS are lacking. We describe the development of a novel protocol for the automated detection (based on the whole head topography of frontal slow waves) and suppression of SWS (through closed-loop modulated randomised pulsed noise), and assessed the feasibility, efficacy and functional relevance compared to sham stimulation in 15 healthy young adults in a repeated-measure sleep laboratory study.

Inverse forgetting in unconscious episodic memory.

Forming memories of experienced episodes calls upon the episodic memory system. Episodic encoding may proceed with and without awareness of episodes. While up to 60% of consciously encoded episodes are forgotten after 10 h, the fate of unconsciously encoded episodes is unknown.