Abstract
In the wake of several studies that have cast doubt upon the effectiveness of contact eye covers in restricting vision, we performed a series of five experiments to the end of achieving reversible blinding of the albino rat. The data of Experiment 1 indicated that the contact eye cover can be as effective as a rubber cup in restricting visual input. In Experiment 2, animals that were fitted binocularly with opaque eye covers performed as if blind on a task involving acquisition of pattern discrimination. In Experiment 3, binocular coverage with the opaque eye cover resulted in chance performance across 300 trials of a previously acquired pattern-discrimination habit. In Experiment 4, the base diameter of the eye cover was found to be a critical factor: Performance of a previously acquired brightness discrimination was reduced to chance levels by contact eye covers that approximated 7.0 mm in diameter. In Experiment 5, a smaller eye cover (6-mm diam) had no effect in limiting the visually evoked electrocortical response of the albino rat, while an eye cover of 7.2-mm diam produced a reliable attenuation of the response. The collective results indicate that appropriately fabricated contact eye covers are a viable means of restricting visual input and may justifiably be considered contact occluders.
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We express our gratitude to Linda Mann for her assistance and patience in preparing the manuscript. We also wish to thank Norman Dunsmore, Serena Tollefson, and Lawrence Midaugh for assistance in gathering portions of the data reported in Experiment 2.
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Levinson, D.M., sheridan, C.L., Hottman, T.J. et al. Assessment of the contact eye cover as an effective method of restricting visual input. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation 10, 376–388 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03205157