<p>I don't think the scientific literature would necessarily describe the process as "shifting thought between subconscious and conscious awareness" but putting exact definitions aside, obviously this does occur.</p>

<p>When I recall information, in some sense information is being moved from the unconscious to the conscious part of my mind. By focusing on a different task I am able to switch my attention to something else. Thus, what was previously the focus of my consciousness no longer is.</p>

<p>You could think about top-down versus bottom up processes of allocating attention, where top-down refers to where attention is driven more by the individual and bottom-up refers to when attention is driven more by environmental cues.</p>

<p>There are also many other psychological constructs that are concerned with self-regulation of conscious experience. See for example <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_suppression">thought suppression</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coping_%28psychology%29#Types_of_coping_strategies">avoidance coping strategies</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-29T01:50:18.167Z
2012-10-29T01:50:18.167Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>While awake, can thought activity be transferred between the subconscious and conscious awareness, by will?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-30T12:07:48.980Z
You should read [this question & answer](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/992/29) to learn the proper terminology and with it find the answer to your own question.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-31T00:34:47.987Z
@ArtemKaznatcheev: I have seen that one, doesn't help...
Greg McNulty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-31T05:49:29.167Z
if you have seen it, then why are you using the unscientific term 'subconscious'? If you simply used the scientific terms, you would answer your own question.
Artem Kaznatcheev
<perception><consciousness>
Can thought be shifted between subconscious and conscious awareness?
Greg McNulty
# Can thought be shifted between subconscious and conscious awareness?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-10-29)

While awake, can thought activity be transferred between the subconscious and conscious awareness, by will?

**Tags:** perception, consciousness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You should read [this question & answer](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/992/29) to learn the proper terminology and with it find the answer to your own question.  
> **username_0**: @ArtemKaznatcheev: I have seen that one, doesn't help...  
> **username_1**: if you have seen it, then why are you using the unscientific term 'subconscious'? If you simply used the scientific terms, you would answer your own question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-10-29. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

I don't think the scientific literature would necessarily describe the process as "shifting thought between subconscious and conscious awareness" but putting exact definitions aside, obviously this does occur.

When I recall information, in some sense information is being moved from the unconscious to the conscious part of my mind. By focusing on a different task I am able to switch my attention to something else. Thus, what was previously the focus of my consciousness no longer is.

You could think about top-down versus bottom up processes of allocating attention, where top-down refers to where attention is driven more by the individual and bottom-up refers to when attention is driven more by environmental cues.

There are also many other psychological constructs that are concerned with self-regulation of conscious experience. See for example [thought suppression](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_suppression) and [avoidance coping strategies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coping_%28psychology%29#Types_of_coping_strategies).


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