Unconscious influences on decision making in blindsight. Issue 1 (24th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brogaard, Berit; Marlow, Kristian; Rice, Kevin
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 37:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2014-01-24
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X13000654
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: Newell & Shanks (N&S) argue that an explanation for blindsight need not appeal to unconscious brain processes, citing research indicating that the condition merely reflects degraded visual experience. We reply that other evidence suggests blindsighters' predictive behavior under forced choice reflects cognitive access to low-level visual information that does not correlate with visual consciousness. Therefore, while we grant that visual consciousness may be required for full visual experience, we argue that it may not be needed for decision making and judgment.