Blindsight a case study spanning 35 years and new developments

by Weiskrantz, Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9780199567218
• ISBN10: 0199567212
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780198521921
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-05-24
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details

Summary

Blindsight is an unusual condition where the sufferer can respond to visual stimuli, while lacking any conscious feeling of having seen the stimuli. It occurs after a particular form of brain injury. The first edition of Blindsight, by one of the pioneers in the field - Lawrence Weiskrantz, reported studies of a patient with this condition. It was an important, much cited publication. In the past twenty years, further work has been done in this area, and this new edition brings the book up todate. Retaining the original text, but adding a substantial new chapter and colour illustrations, the first section of the book summarizes findings on DB since the last published account in 1986. The second part includes information on other new research that has occurred since the last edition.As well as giving an account of research over a number of years into a particular case of blindsight, it provides a discussion of the historical and neurological background, a review of cases reported by other investigators, and a number of theoretical and practical issues and implications.The book will be valuable for cognitive psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists, as well as philosophers of mind.

Table of Contents

Introduction to 'Blindsight' after 35 yearsNew departures in blindsight researchIntroduction to the new paperback edition of 'Blindsight'Part I1. Background2. D.B.: clinical history and early testingPart II3. Reaching for randomly located targets4. 'Presence' versus 'absence'5. Visual acuity6. Movement thresholds7. Discrimination of orientation8. 'Form' discrimination9. Detection with slow rate of onset10. The natural blind-spot (optic disc) within the scotoma11. Left versus right eye12. Detection of direction of contrast13. 'Waves'14. Matching between impaired and intact fields15. Matching within the impaired field16. Double dissociations between form and detection17. Standard situationPart III18. Review of other cases19. Status, issues and implications