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Video & Multimedia

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)

9. Inattentional blindness is a mixed blessing, Uncle Joe

Reply to Uncle Joe (Reply #5)

Fri Jul 4, 2014, 11:03 PM

Jul 2014

On the one hand, it means you "failed" Chabris and Simon's test.
On the other hand, it means you're capable of focusing intently on the task at hand and eliminating extraneous details.
In many -- if not most -- circumstances, that's a valuable skill.
The Alerting or Arousal Network (which runs on noradrenaline) is evolutionarily designed to ensure our survival.
Of course, had the gorilla been real -- it wasn't -- and in your house instead of on a YouTube -- once again, it wasn't -- then you'd be toast. But I think it's safe to say that when you're explicitly asked to focus on counting basketball passes, a person dressed in an unconvincing gorilla suit on a YouTube video is the epitome of an extraneous detail.

I enjoy their test (it's quite famous), but I question their conclusions.

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Selective Attention Test. [View all] Uncle Joe Jul 2014 OP

hmmmm Ash_F Jul 2014 #1

I counted fifteen and I saw the gorilla. Do I get some kind of prize? AAO Jul 2014 #16

The test is meant to be taken in a group, with a reward for the correct or best answer. The Fred Sanders Jul 2014 #24

This one is funnier: Hissyspit Jul 2014 #2

That was a good one Hissyspit. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #3

Another good awareness tests is knowing what 30 secondary students are doing at the same time all DhhD Jul 2014 #8

I pam4water Jul 2014 #4

It means you have good awareness, I imagine many people including myself Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #5

Is this like that test were they quickly show you cards that are clubs, but in the color red? pam4water Jul 2014 #6

I imagine that would be related along the same lines. n/t Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #7

If I'm not mistaken, that's a variation of what's called the Stroop test RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #10

Inattentional blindness is a mixed blessing, Uncle Joe RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #9

Thanks for the explanation. Might be a light version of field depend and field independent. pam4water Jul 2014 #11

You're welcome. Perhaps. RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #12

Thanks, RufusTFirefly, I feel better about that now. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #13

No worries. RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #14

Of course. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #15

Not possible to argue with sound logic AAO Jul 2014 #17

Why, even a four-year-old child could understand it! RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #18

I had 2 4 yr old children, and they even understand AAO Jul 2014 #19

I missed one pass, but I saw the gorilla almost immediately, so that's likely the reason I missed on hedda_foil Jul 2014 #20

Gorillas can be your friend. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #21

The answer is *16* nolabels Jul 2014 #22

There was actually a real world example of this during the Olympics TlalocW Jul 2014 #23

This one is better.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #25

It would have been easier to spot if she had been eating a tub of ice cream. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #26

I totally missed the gorilla mucifer Jul 2014 #27

So did I, mucifer but according to RufusTFirefly's post #9 that's a mixed blessing. n/t Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #28