Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?

DB, the first blindsight case to be tested extensively (Weiskrantz, 1986) has demonstrated the ability to detect and discriminate a range of visual stimuli presented within his perimetrically blind visual field defect. In a temporal two alternative forced choice (2AFC) detection experiment we have i...

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Päätekijät: Trevethan, C, Sahraie, A, Weiskrantz, L
Aineistotyyppi: Journal article
Kieli:English
Julkaistu: 2007
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author Trevethan, C
Sahraie, A
Weiskrantz, L
author_facet Trevethan, C
Sahraie, A
Weiskrantz, L
author_sort Trevethan, C
collection OXFORD
description DB, the first blindsight case to be tested extensively (Weiskrantz, 1986) has demonstrated the ability to detect and discriminate a range of visual stimuli presented within his perimetrically blind visual field defect. In a temporal two alternative forced choice (2AFC) detection experiment we have investigated the limits of DB's detection ability within his field defect. Blind field performance was compared to his sighted field performance and to an age-matched control group (n=6). DB reliably detected the presence of a small (2 degrees ), low contrast (7%), 4.6c/ degrees Gabor patch with the same space-averaged luminance as the background presented within his blind field but performed at chance levels at the same eccentricity (11.3 degrees ) within his sighted field. Investigation of detection as a function of stimulus contrast revealed DB's ability to detect the presence of an 8% contrast stimulus within his blind field, compared to 12% in his sighted field. No significant difference in detection performance between DB's sighted field and the performance of six age-matched control participants suggests poor sighted field performance does not account for the results. Monocular testing also rules out differences between the eyes as an explanation, suggesting that DB demonstrates superior detection for certain stimuli within his visual field defect compared to normal vision.
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spelling oxford-uuid:314a59ff-7a5f-4f2e-af4c-8e6cb9c740952022-03-26T13:07:00ZCan blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:314a59ff-7a5f-4f2e-af4c-8e6cb9c74095EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2007Trevethan, CSahraie, AWeiskrantz, LDB, the first blindsight case to be tested extensively (Weiskrantz, 1986) has demonstrated the ability to detect and discriminate a range of visual stimuli presented within his perimetrically blind visual field defect. In a temporal two alternative forced choice (2AFC) detection experiment we have investigated the limits of DB's detection ability within his field defect. Blind field performance was compared to his sighted field performance and to an age-matched control group (n=6). DB reliably detected the presence of a small (2 degrees ), low contrast (7%), 4.6c/ degrees Gabor patch with the same space-averaged luminance as the background presented within his blind field but performed at chance levels at the same eccentricity (11.3 degrees ) within his sighted field. Investigation of detection as a function of stimulus contrast revealed DB's ability to detect the presence of an 8% contrast stimulus within his blind field, compared to 12% in his sighted field. No significant difference in detection performance between DB's sighted field and the performance of six age-matched control participants suggests poor sighted field performance does not account for the results. Monocular testing also rules out differences between the eyes as an explanation, suggesting that DB demonstrates superior detection for certain stimuli within his visual field defect compared to normal vision.
spellingShingle Trevethan, C
Sahraie, A
Weiskrantz, L
Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title_full Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title_fullStr Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title_full_unstemmed Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title_short Can blindsight be superior to 'sighted-sight'?
title_sort can blindsight be superior to sighted sight
work_keys_str_mv AT trevethanc canblindsightbesuperiortosightedsight
AT sahraiea canblindsightbesuperiortosightedsight
AT weiskrantzl canblindsightbesuperiortosightedsight