I don't know if it really is a case of visual processing not copying
reality into our brains, or more just a case of brains normalizing out
things that don't change. ("Normalization" is the tracking and target
detection term for it, I don't know what the neuroscientists call it). It's
pretty common in prey species who need to be most attentive to fast moving
predators, and (acoustically) most people can tune out consistent
background sounds in order to focus on something at hand. On the other
hand, remember "snow" on TV, when the dial was turned to a non-station? Put
it on in a room, and it will hold many people's attention because it is
constantly changing. Ditto for a fire in a fireplace.On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 11:52 AM, William Conger <[email protected]>wrote: > Interesting. > wc > > > ----- Forwarded Message ---- > From: Norman Holland <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wed, May 2, 2012 9:10:52 AM > Subject: We see with our brains > > This is a striking illustration of the fact that our perceptual systems do > not > copy "reality" into our brains. > > > --Norm > > Motion Induced Blindness > > It works exactly like it says, and is one major reason people in > cars can look right at you (when you're on a motorcycle or bicycle) -- > AND NOT SEE YOU. From a former Naval Aviator. This is a great > illustration of what we were taught about scanning outside the cockpit > when I went through training back in the '50s. We were told to scan the > horizon for a short distance, stop momentarily, and repeat the process. > I can remember being told why this was the most effective technique to > locate other aircraft. It was emphasized (repeatedly) to NOT fix your > gaze for more than a couple of seconds on any single object. The > instructors, some of whom were WWII veterans with years of > experience,instructed us to continually "keep our eyes moving and our > head on a swivel" because this was the best way to survive, not only in > combat,but from peacetime hazards (like a midair collision) as well. We > basically had to take the advice on faith (until we could experience for > ourselves) because the technology to demonstrate it didn't exist at that > time. > Click on the link below for a demonstration > > / http://www.msf-usa.org/motion.html
