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Motion-induced blindness in normal observers

Author

Listed:
  • Yoram S. Bonneh

    (Smith–Kettlewell Eye Research Institute)

  • Alexander Cooperman

    (Brain Research, The Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Dov Sagi

    (Brain Research, The Weizmann Institute of Science)

Abstract

Cases in which salient visual stimuli do not register consciously are known to occur in special conditions, such as the presentation of dissimilar stimuli to the two eyes1 or when images are stabilized on the retina2. Here, we report a striking phenomenon of ‘visual disappearance’ observed with normal-sighted observers under natural conditions. When a global moving pattern is superimposed on high-contrast stationary or slowly moving stimuli, the latter disappear and reappear alternately for periods of several seconds. We show that this motion-induced blindness (MIB) phenomenon is unlikely to reflect retinal suppression, sensory masking or adaptation. The phenomenology observed includes perceptual grouping effects, object rivalry and visual field anisotropy. This is very similar to that found in other types of visual disappearance, as well as in clinical cases of attention deficits, in which partial invisibility might occur despite the primary visual areas being intact3. Disappearance might reflect a disruption of attentional processing, which shifts the system into a winner-takes-all mode, uncovering the dynamics of competition between object representations within the human visual system.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoram S. Bonneh & Alexander Cooperman & Dov Sagi, 2001. "Motion-induced blindness in normal observers," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6839), pages 798-801, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:411:y:2001:i:6839:d:10.1038_35081073
    DOI: 10.1038/35081073
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    Cited by:

    1. Yoram S Bonneh & Tobias H Donner & Alexander Cooperman & David J Heeger & Dov Sagi, 2014. "Motion-Induced Blindness and Troxler Fading: Common and Different Mechanisms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-8, March.
    2. Johanna Bergmann & Lucy S. Petro & Clement Abbatecola & Min S. Li & A. Tyler Morgan & Lars Muckli, 2024. "Cortical depth profiles in primary visual cortex for illusory and imaginary experiences," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Dina Devyatko & Alexander Pastukhov, 2018. "Extrinsic grouping factors in motion-induced blindness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.

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