Real-Life Continuous Flash Suppression - Rendering The Real World Unconscious Using Augmented Reality Goggles
PsyArXiv Preprints June 26, 2018 preprint DOI: osf:y3fcz_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preprint |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Augmented reality Continuous flash suppression Ecologicality Real objects Perception |
| Key points | The authors report that real objects can be suppressed from awareness using 'real-life CFS', an augmented reality variant in which CFS masks are shown to the dominant eye while the non-dominant eye views the real world. Across three experiments, suppression duration was comparable to that obtained with classic on-screen CFS. |
Abstract
Notice: a peer-reviewed version of this preprint has been published in Behavior Research Methods and is available freely at http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13428-018-1162-0 Continuous Flash Suppression (CFS) is a popular method for suppressing visual stimuli from awareness for relatively long periods. Thus far, it has only been used for suppressing two-dimensional images presented on-screen. We present a novel variant of CFS, termed ‘real-life CFS’, with which the actual immediate surroundings of an observer – including three-dimensional, real life objects – can be rendered unconscious. Real-life CFS uses augmented reality goggles to present subjects with CFS masks to their dominant eye, leaving their non-dominant eye exposed to the real world. In three experiments we demonstrate that real objects can indeed be suppressed from awareness using real-life CFS, and that duration suppression is comparable that obtained using the classic, on-screen CFS. We further provide an example for an experimental code, which can be modified for future studies using ‘real-life CFS’. This opens the gate for new questions in the study of consciousness and its functions.