DOES EXPECTATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE AFFECT THE PHENOMENON OF MOTION-INDUCED BLINDNESS?

Abstract

In Motion-Induced Blindness (MIB), a salient target dot intermittently drifts in and out of visual perception, when viewed in the presence of a moving mask. This thesis sought to investigate the effects of knowledge (two levels) and expectations (4 levels) on illusory disappearances in MIB task, as well as interaction effects of the two factors. The knowledge factor was induced by briefing participants on the MIB phenomenon. Expectations were induced via the first trial that participants engaged in, with four levels which varies according to the length of time the dot disappeared or appeared for - Fast Appearances (FA), Slow Appearances (SA), Fast Disappearances (FA), and Slow Disappearances (SD). Previous studies investigating the effects of higher level visual processing revealed MIB is in part, influenced by higher level visual processing areas. No significant main effects of knowledge and expectations were found on MIB. No significant interaction effect between knowledge and expectations were found on MIB. Despite the lack of significant results, the current study expanded the literature on the effects of higher order processing on MIB and visual perception. These results also challenge the role of higher order visual processing on MIB.