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.