Abstract
This series of papers considers the causes and correlates of the clear-cut apparent disappearances reported when a luminous stimulus is viewed under natural fixation. Individual differences are prominent in this phenomenon. They raise the more general issue of individual differences in the maintenance of organized neuronal sequences (such as those presumed to provide a basis for perception and thought). Paper I interprets the basis for maintained perception of a stimulus (percept maintenance). It assumes percept maintenance consists of an interaction of central with peripheral (motor) variables. Measures are suggested. Papers II and III demonstrate several characteristics of luminous frame disappearances; they are markedly altered by changes in eye movement, show marked individual differences but do not change systematically from trial to trial under certain (neutral) instructions. In Papers IV and V an interpretation of individual differences in percept maintenance is used to predict 19% of the variance in measures of tolerance for sensory restriction. Paper VI summarizes work reported here and discusses tasks of future research.
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