Too slow to see? Conscious vision and real-time behavior




Arstila, Valtteri; Railo, Henry

PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP)

2026

e165

49

0140-525X

1469-1825

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X25102902

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x25102902



We challenge Fleming and Michel’s claim that conscious vision is too slow for real-time action. Correlative and functional evidence suggest that conscious perception can emerge around 200 ms post-stimulus and guide behavior. Due to their reliance on rare postdiction effects and assumptions about unconscious vision, they underestimate the speed of conscious vision and overestimate the functional relevance of unconscious vision.



The commentary was partially supported by the Research Council of Finland project No. 342166.


Last updated on 10/08/2026 10:11:18 AM