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I've experienced this any number of times, mostly when backpacking in the Adirondacks in overcast conditions. I've woken up in the middle of the night with no f
by agf 13y ago
I've experienced this any number of times, mostly when backpacking in the Adirondacks in overcast conditions. I've woken up in the middle of the night with no feeling of vision at all -- no sense of light or dark. It can be extremely disconcerting and similar to the feeling of drowning, for anyone who's also experienced that.
The article also suggests the phenomenon is temperature related, which I'd confirm. The times I've approached true panic for feeling "blind" have been between -20 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit, while I've always seen more of a mid to dark brown at warmer temperatures, from 50F up.
- salmonellaeater 13y agoI'm pretty sure the temperature of the rhodopsin in your eye was above 30 degrees Fahrenheit :) A toad's eye temperature can vary because it's cold-blooded. If humans' experience of eigengrau varies with outside temperature, well that's interesting and deserves study.
- agf 13y agoSure. I assume I'd be truly blind if the fluid in my eye eve went below zero C. I'm talking about the perception only.
- coldarchon 13y agoThe feeling of drowning probably comes from a sort of "residual charge" of sleep paralysis after you woke up. In sleep paralysis only your stem brain has control over your body, any signal your mind sends to your body is blocked. Furthermore your mind doesn't get any signal from your body, you don't get a feedback the breath of air you wanted to take has been done, while you are breathing. This is how the nightmare about drowning comes into existence.