Medical Losing vision when concentrating on problem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the phenomenon of losing vision while concentrating on a problem, often described as a form of daydreaming. Participants suggest that this could be linked to working memory limitations and the relaxation of eye muscles, which leads to a broad field of view without focused attention. User Evo emphasizes the importance of consulting a doctor if experiencing any vision loss, as it is not considered normal. The conversation also touches on the concept of saccadic suppression, where prolonged fixation on an image can lead to diminished visual perception.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of working memory and its limitations
  • Basic knowledge of eye physiology, particularly eye muscle function
  • Familiarity with saccadic movements and their role in vision
  • Awareness of when to seek medical advice regarding vision issues
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between working memory and visual perception
  • Learn about saccadic suppression and its effects on vision
  • Explore eye muscle physiology and its impact on focus
  • Investigate when to consult a healthcare professional for vision-related concerns
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for cognitive scientists, psychologists, educators, and anyone experiencing visual disturbances during intense concentration, as well as individuals interested in the intersection of vision and cognitive processes.

mishima
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I feel stupid mentioning it, but I think this happens to everyone and I'm curious if there is a name for this...sometimes when I'm concentrating on an engaging science problem I will lose awareness of what I'm looking at. I suppose its like a daydream but focused on a problem rather than fantastic.

Is this a working memory thing? I simply don't have enough to hold what I'm looking at and what I'm thinking about simultaneously?
 
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That's why it is called "losing focus" - the eye takes in much more information than can be processed, so it needs to "focus" on the items of interest; if you lose interest, the eye muscles relax, which results in a "broad field of view", but not focused on anything in particular.

Watch how a cat acquires focus (concentration) when it sees a bird ...

I think it relates to the directives that pass between the working memory and the optical processing system in the optic nerve, etc.
 
Do you just lose concentration, or do you lose vision?
 
UltrafastPED: Interesting, I didn't realize my eye muscles were relaxing. Id like to see a video of this happening to someone.

Evo: just vision.
 
mishima said:
UltrafastPED: Interesting, I didn't realize my eye muscles were relaxing. Id like to see a video of this happening to someone.

Evo: just vision.
You should see a doctor immediately, losing vision is not normal. We can't diagnose, so I won't even speculate on possible causes. I hope things turn out ok.
 
I believe I know the effect from my own experience, my take is that it is related to suppression of saccades. Eye seeing the same image for prolonged period of time stops to see it (compare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabilized_images).
 
Hopefully it's nothing, but best to get it checked out, I would never assume even partial vision loss is ok unless verified by a doctor.
 

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