Vocabulary

Cartesian catastrophe

The idea that mental processes taking place outside conscious awareness are impossible.

Conscious

Having knowledge of something external or internal to oneself; being aware of and responding to one’s surroundings.

Distractor task

A task that is designed to make a person think about something unrelated to an impending decision.

EEG

(Electroencephalography) The recording of the brain’s electrical activity over a period of time by placing electrodes on the scalp.

Eureka experience

When a creative product enters consciousness.

Mere-exposure effects

The result of developing a more positive attitude towards a stimulus after repeated instances of mere exposure to it.

Unconscious

Not conscious; the part of the mind that affects behavior though it is inaccessible to the conscious mind.