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Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems the takeaway from the experiment is that someone with blindsight can help their subconscious determine the location of obj

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems the takeaway from the experiment is that someone with blindsight can help their subconscious determine the location of objects inside their 'blind spot' by focusing their attention to that spot. The paper then implies that consciously 'attending to a spot' gives rise to subconscious awareness. Not going to lie, I skimmed this paper because I thought the idea from Peter Watt's novel was interesting. This paper was a fun read.

bmn__ 6y ago
novel https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm 100000 words, estimated reading time 8.4h
GrayShade 6y ago
You might enjoy Phantoms in the Brain which talks about blindsight and other surprising neurological disorders. Watts presents it as inspiration in the Echopraxia end notes.
Boxbot 6y ago
"attention" in this case being an unconscious phenomenon that can but not necessarily lead to conscious awareness. in the study both the visual cues (possibly misleading) and targets were purportedly presented within the subject's "blind spot". the subject did better than chance at correctly signaling whether a target was presented or not and, additionally, was faster at signaling when the cue was helpful than when it was misleading indicating that attention was being directed to the probable location of the target subconsciously. in short, it appears that some neurological mechanisms were processing visual cues and directing attention accordingly without any (reported) conscious awareness of the the cues or the targets.
- CapmCrackaWaka 6y ago
  Ahh the part I missed was that the arrows were in the subjects blind spot too. Very interesting.
  - Boxbot 6y ago
    your original takeaway was correct too =). there were multiple experiments covered by the paper, the earlier ones involving cues that the subject was aware of directing attention into the blind spot, and the later ones dealing with cues and targets both in the blind spot.

bmn__ 6y ago

novel https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm 100000 words, estimated reading time 8.4h

GrayShade 6y ago

You might enjoy Phantoms in the Brain which talks about blindsight and other surprising neurological disorders. Watts presents it as inspiration in the Echopraxia end notes.

Boxbot 6y ago

"attention" in this case being an unconscious phenomenon that can but not necessarily lead to conscious awareness. in the study both the visual cues (possibly misleading) and targets were purportedly presented within the subject's "blind spot". the subject did better than chance at correctly signaling whether a target was presented or not and, additionally, was faster at signaling when the cue was helpful than when it was misleading indicating that attention was being directed to the probable location of the target subconsciously. in short, it appears that some neurological mechanisms were processing visual cues and directing attention accordingly without any (reported) conscious awareness of the the cues or the targets.

CapmCrackaWaka 6y ago
Ahh the part I missed was that the arrows were in the subjects blind spot too. Very interesting.
- Boxbot 6y ago
  your original takeaway was correct too =). there were multiple experiments covered by the paper, the earlier ones involving cues that the subject was aware of directing attention into the blind spot, and the later ones dealing with cues and targets both in the blind spot.