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The power of the subliminal image proved at last
[mis à jour le 13 March 2007 à 09h31]
British researchers have managed to demonstrate the power of subliminal images. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) they have been able to observe the trace left by these images on the brain.
Images are known as subliminal when they are below our awareness threshold (limen, liminis in Latin – editor’s note). A typical example is that of an image slipped into a sequence filmed at 24 images per second. Such an image is “invisible” to the naked eye… but it is quite definitely “seen” by our brain, albeit unconsciously. And when, on a hot summer’s day, that image is a nice, cool bottle of beer…
Well, that was the theory, but now we have the fascinating discovery made by Dr Bahador Bahrami of University College, London. “What is interesting here is that our brain takes note of things of which we are never aware. We have succeeded in proving that it responded to subliminal images via the visual cortex. These images leave a trace in our brain although we have not seen anything”. Fascinating indeed…
But also worrying … as this confirms what we suggested earlier! “These images can be used by advertisers to increase sales. There is a strong probability that they are able to influence us when we are buying particular products. But for the moment this is only speculation”. We’ll have to wait and see … and stay alert!
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