# Anomalies at the Borderline of Awareness An ERP Study **Abstract:** ■ Behaviorally, some semantic anomalies, such as those used to demonstrate N400 effects in ERPs, are easy to detect. However, some, such as “after an air crash, where should the survivors be buried?” are difficult. The difference has to do with the extent to which the anomalous word fits the general context. We asked whether anomalies that are missed elicit an ERP that could be taken as indicating unconscious recognition, and whether both types elicit an N400 effect when they are detected. We **Authors:** [[and Alison J. S. Sanford2]]