CFS-VR: Software for Studying Unconscious Cognition With a VR Headset Using Continuous Flash Suppression

Numerous psychological theories emphasize the importance of unconscious cognition. However, research on unconscious processing has faced stigma and methodological challenges, especially in minimizing contaminating influences of conscious cognition. Continuous flash suppression (CFS), an image presentation technique, has the potential to enlarge the window through which we may view the workings of the unconscious mind prior to the onset of conscious cognition. But CFS can be technically challenging and expensive to implement. We have developed software, CFS-VR, that increases access to CFS as a methodological tool using a basic VR headset. CFS-VR allows for the presentation and recording of responses to many different visual stimuli and trial types, and is freely available. This article provides a brief tutorial and explores research domains (evaluative conditioning, priming, and mere exposure) where CFS-VR can address unresolved and novel research questions.