blindsight

blindsight
   A term introduced in 1974 by the British neu-ropsychologists Lawrence Weiskrantz (b. 1926) et al. to denote residual vision in cases of cortical blindness, especially when there is a corresponding lack of awareness of the visual capacity on the part of the affected individual. Cortical blindness is attributed to lesions of the primary visual cortex (also referred to as V1, area 17, area OC, and striate cortex). The resulting * scotomata, varying in size from a relatively minor area to the entire hemifield (as in * hemianopia) are perceived within the visual field contralateral to the CNS lesion at hand. Individuals with lesions to V1 are not consciously aware of any visual stimuli presented within the scotomatous region. However, during the 1970s Weiskrantz et al. demonstrated that some perceptual information may nevertheless be detected by individuals suffering from cortical blindness. The geniculo-striate pathway, projecting from the retina towards V1, is the largest route into striate cortex. But it is not the only one. Empirical research has indicated that there are at least six other branches of the optic nerve that take a different route into striate cortex, and that some routes may even project into the extras-triate cortex. The residual perception of visual stimuli by individuals with blindsight is attributed to these latter pathways, i.e. the pathways projecting into the extrastriate and remaining stri-ate cortex while bypassing the geniculo-striate system.
   References
   Weiskrantz, L. (1986). Blindsight. A case study and implications. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Dictionary of Hallucinations. . 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Blindsight — steht für: Blindsight (Film), einen Dokumentarfilm aus dem Jahre 2006 Rindenblindheit Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Blindsight — This article is about the neurological phenomenon. For other uses, see Blindsight (disambiguation). Blindsight is a phenomenon in which people who are perceptually blind in a certain area of their visual field demonstrate some response to visual… …   Wikipedia

  • blindsight — noun The responsivity shown by some blind or partially blind people to visual stimuli of which they are not consciously aware. On more pointed testing Sanders and I, along with the National Hospital psychologist Elizabeth K. Warrington,… …   Wiktionary

  • Blindsight (disambiguation) — Blindsight may mean: * Blindsight, a neurological phenomenon. * Blindsight (novel), the 1992 novel written by Robin Cook (novelist). * Blindsight (2006 film), the 2006 Documentary film directed by Lucy Walker. * Blindsight (science fiction novel) …   Wikipedia

  • Blindsight (2006 film) — Infobox Film | name = Blindsight caption = director = Lucy Walker producer = Sybil Robson Orr, Robson Entertainment, London W1, England; Steven Haft (executive producer), New York, USA starring = Erik Weihenmayer, Sabriye Tenberken, Kyila, Tashi… …   Wikipedia

  • Blindsight (science fiction novel) — Infobox Book | name = Blindsight title orig = translator = image caption = author = Peter Watts cover artist = country = United States language = English series = genre = Science fiction novel publisher = Tor Books release date = 3 October 2006… …   Wikipedia

  • Blindsight (Film) — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel Blindsight Produktionsland USA …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Blindsight (novel) — infobox Book | name = Blindsight title orig = translator = image caption = author = Robin Cook illustrator = cover artist = Red Saunders country = United States language = English series = genre = Thriller, Novel publisher = G. P. Putnam s Sons… …   Wikipedia

  • blindsight — /bluynd suyt /, n. the ability of a blind person to sense accurately a light source or other visual stimulus even though unable to see it consciously. [BLIND + SIGHT] * * * …   Universalium

  • blindsight — The phenomenon in which a patient has no conscious visual experience in some direction, yet functions much better than a blind person could in various tasks involving the spatial location of objects in that region. Philosophically, the syndrome… …   Philosophy dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”