Cited by 167Visual perception and processing mechanismsMultisensory perception and integrationPhilosophy and Theoretical Science

Visual sensitivity underlying changes in visual consciousness

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Alais, David, Cass, John, O'Shea, Robert P., Blake, Randolph·2010·Current Biology

Abstract

When viewing a different stimulus with each eye, we experience the remarkable phenomenon of binocular rivalry: alternations in consciousness between the stimuli [1, 2]. According to a popular theory first proposed in 1901, neurons encoding the two stimuli engage in reciprocal inhibition [3-8] so that those processing one stimulus inhibit those processing the other, yielding consciousness of one dominant stimulus at any moment and suppressing the other. Also according to the theory, neurons encoding the dominant stimulus adapt, weakening their activity and the inhibition they can exert, whereas neurons encoding the suppressed stimulus recover from adaptation until the balance of activity reverses, triggering an alternation in consciousness. Despite its popularity, this theory has one glaring inconsistency with data: during an episode of suppression, visual sensitivity to brief probe stimuli in the dominant eye should decrease over time and should increase in the suppressed eye, yet sensitivity appears to be constant [9, 10]. Using more appropriate probe stimuli (experiment 1) in conjunction with a new method (experiment 2), we found that sensitivities in dominance and suppression do show the predicted complementary changes.

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Authors
Alais, D., Cass, J., O'Shea, R. P., & Blake, R.
Affiliations
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Western Sydney University (AU)
  • Seoul National University (KR)
Corresponding author
Blake, Randolph
Venue
Current Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-08
Volume
20
Issue
15
Pages
1362-1367
ISSN
0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2069201857
Cited by
166
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 10
FWCI
10.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion)
  • Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Australian Research Council (DP0770299, DP0774697)
  • National Research Foundation of Korea
  • Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (R32-10142)
  • National Institutes of Health (EY13358)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Keywords
binocular rivalry, visual awareness, visual sensitivity, reciprocal inhibition, neural adaptation
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neural Inhibition, Vision, Binocular, Contrast Sensitivity

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