Blindsight: A Case Study and Its Implications

Oxford Psychology

by Lawrence Weiskrantz

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 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.

196 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 1990

About the author

Lawrence Weiskrantz was a British psychologist, who discovered the phenomenon of blindsight.