AperTO is the institutional open access repository of the University of Turin. The manuscript discusses neuroactive steroids and their focus on the human brain. The author's manuscript is available at http://hdl.handle.net/2318/86226 since 2016-07-01T18:39:46Z. The published version has a DOI of 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.024. The work is open access, allowing free access to the full text of works made available under a Creative Commons license. Use of other works requires consent from the right holder if not exempted by applicable law. The article explores the neural bases of non-conscious perception of emotional signals. It discusses how emotional stimuli can be processed without conscious perception, involving subcortical structures that interact with cortical processes. The study highlights that non-conscious perception of emotional stimuli induces distinct neurophysiological changes and influences behavior towards the consciously perceived world. It also discusses the distinction between non-conscious and conscious perception, noting that non-conscious perception is not merely a lack of consciousness but a distinct phenomenon with specific evolutionary benefits. The article reviews different types of non-conscious perception, including attentional and sensory unawareness. It discusses the neural structures involved in non-conscious perception, such as the superior colliculus, pulvinar, and amygdala. The study also examines the functional and structural neuroanatomy of the human brain, focusing on the subcortical pathways involved in emotional processing. It highlights the role of the amygdala in emotional processing and the integration of cortical and subcortical activity in the human brain. The article also discusses the ontogenetic development of the subcortical pathway for the perception of emotional signals, noting that the visual system in newborns is more sensitive to low spatial frequency stimuli. It explores the role of non-conscious perception in behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes, suggesting that non-conscious perception of emotional stimuli is not a degraded counterpart of conscious perception but a different mode of processing visual signals. The study concludes that the integration of subcortical and cortical activity is crucial for understanding the neural bases of non-conscious perception of emotional signals.AperTO is the institutional open access repository of the University of Turin. The manuscript discusses neuroactive steroids and their focus on the human brain. The author's manuscript is available at http://hdl.handle.net/2318/86226 since 2016-07-01T18:39:46Z. The published version has a DOI of 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.024. The work is open access, allowing free access to the full text of works made available under a Creative Commons license. Use of other works requires consent from the right holder if not exempted by applicable law. The article explores the neural bases of non-conscious perception of emotional signals. It discusses how emotional stimuli can be processed without conscious perception, involving subcortical structures that interact with cortical processes. The study highlights that non-conscious perception of emotional stimuli induces distinct neurophysiological changes and influences behavior towards the consciously perceived world. It also discusses the distinction between non-conscious and conscious perception, noting that non-conscious perception is not merely a lack of consciousness but a distinct phenomenon with specific evolutionary benefits. The article reviews different types of non-conscious perception, including attentional and sensory unawareness. It discusses the neural structures involved in non-conscious perception, such as the superior colliculus, pulvinar, and amygdala. The study also examines the functional and structural neuroanatomy of the human brain, focusing on the subcortical pathways involved in emotional processing. It highlights the role of the amygdala in emotional processing and the integration of cortical and subcortical activity in the human brain. The article also discusses the ontogenetic development of the subcortical pathway for the perception of emotional signals, noting that the visual system in newborns is more sensitive to low spatial frequency stimuli. It explores the role of non-conscious perception in behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes, suggesting that non-conscious perception of emotional stimuli is not a degraded counterpart of conscious perception but a different mode of processing visual signals. The study concludes that the integration of subcortical and cortical activity is crucial for understanding the neural bases of non-conscious perception of emotional signals.