Blindsight: a case study and implications

Description

Damage to the neocortex is generally understood to result in blindness. Studies of some patients who have suffered from this form of blindness have, nevertheless, revealed that they can discriminate certain types of visual events within their "blind" field. However, patients do so without being aware of this ability: they think they are only "guessing". This phenomenon has been termed "blindsight" by Professor Weiskrantz and his collaborators, who were among the first to describe it. It has attracted considerable interest among neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers, who see possible implications for theories of perception and for consciousness. This now classic book, first published in 1986, gives an account of research over the number of years into a particular case blindsight, together with a discussion of the historical and neurological background. A other cases reported by other investigators and a number of theoretical and practical issues and implications are reviewed. All neuroscientists and psychologists with an interest in the phenomena will welcome this reissued version.