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| dumbstruck... |
 Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:17 am |
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A crude, non-self-aware "blindsight" has been discovered in people
blinded due to cortex injuries http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Blindsight
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Would anyone like to comment on the usefulness of blindsight to the
sighted? I first heard this mentioned in the context of being able to
duck a blow to the head really fast, for instance, before you are able
to comprehend what is happening. Also that some animals like sharks
and alligators mainly function with this.
Can blindsight be enhanced? Is it part of the rod network that detects
motion? Is it peripheral rather than central? Sounds like a possible
marketing opportunity - magic cream or tinfoil hat guaranteed to
increase your blindsight. |
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| Mike Tyner... |
| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:37 pm |
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"dumbstruck" <dumbstruc at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote
[quote]Would anyone like to comment on the usefulness of blindsight to the
sighted? I first heard this mentioned in the context of being able to
duck a blow to the head really fast, for instance, before you are able
to comprehend what is happening.
[/quote]
You're thinking of blindsight as an added bonus, something normal people
don't have.
Instead, I'm pretty sure "blindsight" is a component of normal vision - we
already DO duck before comprehending. That's precisely what reflexes are.
What's different about blindsight is the _awareness_ is missing.
Other cognitive defects are also interesting, like prosopagnosia.
-MT |
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| dumbstruck... |
| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:15 pm |
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On Oct 27, 10:37 am, "Mike Tyner" <mty... at (no spam) mindspring.com> wrote:
[quote]You're thinking of blindsight as an added bonus, something normal people
don't have.
Instead, I'm pretty sure "blindsight" is a component of normal vision - we
already DO duck before comprehending. That's precisely what reflexes are.
What's different about blindsight is the _awareness_ is missing.
[/quote]
No, I do assume most of us have it. But would be nice if you could
enhance it by learning somehow. Not only for the blind, but for the
sighted. And it would be nice to know the nature of it's wiring to
whichever rod cell areas... which could tell it's potential. |
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