The significance of unrecognized feedback stimuli in cognitive activity.

The role of unrecognized forms of reinforcement in the function of the discrimination of microintervals of time was investigated in emotionally excitable adults. The word "good" [""khorosho""] (positive reinforcement) and a word associated with the subject's negative emotions (negative reinforcement) were utilized as feedback stimuli. Experimental confirmation was obtained of the hypothesis that unrecognized phenomena of the external milieu can exert an influence on conscious mental activity and on the learning process in man. Unrecognized semantic stimuli can fulfill the function of a reinforcing factor, and thus participate in the process of learning a cognitive activity accomplished at the conscious level.