For this assignment, we will be reflecting on the role of nonconscious perception in the disorder called “Blindsight.” Nonconscious perception refers to the ability to perceive stimuli without being aware of them. It is also known as subliminal perception, which is defined as brain activity evoked by a stimulus that is below the threshold for awareness. When processing is subliminal, the information is inaccessible to awareness.
Blindsight, a term coined by Weiskrantz (1974, 1986), refers to the phenomenon in which some patients suffering a lesion in their visual cortex can respond to visual stimuli presented in the blind part of their visual field. Interestingly, these activities happen outside the realm of consciousness. For example, patients may deny that they can do a visual task, yet their performance is clearly above chance when they are forced to answer. Thus, such patients have access to information but do not consciously experience it. In other words, they can use visually presented information that was not accessible to consciousness.
ASSIGNMENT
Please watch the 2 videos on blindsight linked here:
https://youtu.be/R4SYxTecL8E?si=idWpCshESdSsUbZxLinks to an external site.
https://youtu.be/pZBwLNYzgO4?si=hhX10IOGGQDEZkgsLinks to an external site.
Read the background material on subliminal perception that is available in Chapter 2 of the textbook, pp. 89-96, which includes descriptions of patients with blindsight.
This reflection entry will give you the opportunity to think about how nonconscious experiences relate to issues of visual perception and brain processing. The entry is meant to be a “writing-to-learn” exercise rather than a demonstration of formal learning. Additional sources are not required; however, you may choose to use them as long as you cite them in the text and add a reference list at the end (see APA guidelines for proper formatting).
Write your entry as a thoughtful and well-written essay that conveys your reactions and ideas about the relevance of course material to the specific issues of nonconscious perception and blindsight. Your reflection should be approximately 275-325 words in length (approximately 1 page, double spaced).
Sources must be cited in text and in reference list at end.