Cited by 363Visual perception and processing mechanismsSpatial Neglect and Hemispheric DysfunctionVisual Attention and Saliency Detection

Attention without awareness in blindsight

Open access
Kentridge, R. W., Heywood, C. A., Weiskrantz, L.·1999·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences

Abstract

The act of attending has frequently been equated with visual awareness. We examined this relationship in 'blindsight'--a condition in which the latter is absent or diminished as a result of damage to the primary visual cortex. Spatially selective visual attention is demonstrated when information that stimuli are likely to appear at a specific location enhances the speed or accuracy of detection of stimuli subsequently presented at that location. In a blindsight subject, we showed that attention can confer an advantage in processing stimuli presented at an attended location, without those stimuli entering consciousness. Attention could be directed both by symbolic cues in the subject's spared field of vision or cues presented in his blind field. Cues in his blind field were even effective in directing his attention to a second location remote from that at which the cue was presented. These indirect cues were effective whether or not they themselves elicited non-visual awareness. We concluded that the spatial selection of information by an attentional mechanism and its entry into conscious experience cannot be one and the same process.

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Crossref · 10.1098/rspb.1999.0850

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Authors
Kentridge, R. W., Heywood, C. A., & Weiskrantz, L.
Affiliations
  • Durham University (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Kentridge, R. W.
Venue
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
Published
1999-09-07
Volume
266
Issue
1430
Pages
1805-1811
ISSN
  • 0080-4649 (ISSN-L)
  • 0962-8452
  • 1471-2954
OpenAlex
W1979694956
Cited by
362
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 20
FWCI
5.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Spatial Neglect and Hemispheric Dysfunction
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Visual Attention and Saliency Detection
Keywords
blindsight, visual attention, visual awareness, spatial attention, cueing, blind field, attention and consciousness, visual perception
MeSH terms
Accidents, Traffic, Adult, Attention, Awareness, Cues, Hemianopsia, Humans, Male, Reaction Time, Space Perception, Visual Cortex, Contrast Sensitivity

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