Universität zu Köln

Tavera-Salyutov, Felice Lluvia ORCID: 0000-0003-0994-6620 (2025). Attention, Semantics, and Transfer in Implicit Learning: Insights for Theories of Consciousness from an Adapted Contextual Cueing Paradigm. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

Studying of human consciousness poses many challenges. Numerous approaches seek to define consciousness and how it may be scientifically studied. This dissertation advocates a theory-driven approach to the empirical study of consciousness. Specifically, it considers the Global Workspace Theory, the Higher-Order Thought Theory, and the Integrated Information Theory. It aims to identify the boundaries of unconscious processing proposed by these theo-ries to clarify the functional role of consciousness. To this end, I developed a novel variant of the contextual cueing paradigm to examine implicit contingency learning as a proxy for unconscious processing in three studies. Study 1 tested the role of attention, specifically, whether implicit learning of contingencies between features depended on their task rele-vance, and whether cue competition effects occurred without awareness. Learning occurred independently of task relevance, with no evidence of cue competition. Study 2 examined the hypothesis of modularized unconscious processing by examining transfer effects of contin-gency knowledge from one feature to another without explicit instructions. Such transfer effects were observed, suggesting that contingency information can be exchanged between processing modules without being consciously accessible. Study 3 tested whether semantic information can be used in implicit learning. We found evidence of semantic category learn-ing without awareness, but observed a reversed effect: not a learning benefit, but potential inhibitory effects based on the learned contingencies. Across all three studies, we imple-mented a refined test and analysis procedure for detecting explicit knowledge. This approach aimed to improve both the sensitivity and reliability of the awareness test assessment com-pared to conventional recognition-based measures. The findings are discussed in light of the three aforementioned theories of consciousness and their respective predictions. This disser-tation contributes to refining theoretical models of consciousness, and opens new pathways for their empirical evaluation. It underscores the value of implicit learning paradigms along-side other methodological tools.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Tavera-Salyutov, Felice Lluvia felice.tavera@gmx.de https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0994-6620 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-789516
Date:	2025
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language consciousness English implicit learning English contextual cueing English
Date of oral exam:	29 September 2025
Referee:	Name Academic Title Haider, Frithilde Prof. Dr. Stahl, Jutta Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/78951