Comments on: How to Make Your Eye Feels Like Its Closed Even Though It's Open http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/ The Neat Side of the Web Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:36:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: cait http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-559670 cait Tue, 20 May 2008 10:00:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-559670 i tried this out and then immediately turned the light on and looked in the mirror to see the difference in pupil size and it was pretty intense! the left eye was significantly smaller than the right eye. just thought it would be fun to see, though i must admit i am easily amused... i tried this out and then immediately turned the light on and looked in the mirror to see the difference in pupil size and it was pretty intense! the left eye was significantly smaller than the right eye. just thought it would be fun to see, though i must admit i am easily amused...

]]> By: Jess http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-559263 Jess Tue, 20 May 2008 04:51:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-559263 Hey Jennifer, I think your right. While we have fewer cones than rods, the cones are much more highly concentrated towards the middle of our retinae, which is where we tend to recieve the input that makes up our central vision. Rods are more highly concentrated towards the outer edges of the retina. Because rods are much more sensitive to light, when our eyes are adjusting an a dark room, we are better able to perceive light and shapes in our peripheral vision. Hey Jennifer, I think your right. While we have fewer cones than rods, the cones are much more highly concentrated towards the middle of our retinae, which is where we tend to recieve the input that makes up our central vision. Rods are more highly concentrated towards the outer edges of the retina. Because rods are much more sensitive to light, when our eyes are adjusting an a dark room, we are better able to perceive light and shapes in our peripheral vision.

]]> By: Jennifer Robinson http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-559232 Jennifer Robinson Tue, 20 May 2008 04:26:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-559232 Here's another cool trick to play on yourself in a dark room. I inadvertently discovered this a while back. I have a reading light that's attached to a headset, so that I can read in the dark and not disturb my sleeping husband. So I had been staring at the brightly lit pages for a while, and when I switched off the light, the room was instantly totally dark. I had zero night vision at that moment. I happened to have a package of glow in the dark stars on the floor which were faintly glowing... I noticed that if I looked straight at them, they disappeared completely, but if I looked away, I could clearly see them with my peripheral vision. I kept quickly looking at them and then away, effectively seeming to turn them "off" and "on". It was quite cool! I know this has something to do with the different sensitivities of the rods and cones in your eye. Here's another cool trick to play on yourself in a dark room. I inadvertently discovered this a while back. I have a reading light that's attached to a headset, so that I can read in the dark and not disturb my sleeping husband. So I had been staring at the brightly lit pages for a while, and when I switched off the light, the room was instantly totally dark. I had zero night vision at that moment. I happened to have a package of glow in the dark stars on the floor which were faintly glowing... I noticed that if I looked straight at them, they disappeared completely, but if I looked away, I could clearly see them with my peripheral vision. I kept quickly looking at them and then away, effectively seeming to turn them "off" and "on". It was quite cool! I know this has something to do with the different sensitivities of the rods and cones in your eye.

]]> By: andrewdoane http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558728 andrewdoane Mon, 19 May 2008 21:55:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558728 The human body is sure amazing. The human body is sure amazing.

]]> By: esa http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558418 esa Mon, 19 May 2008 18:37:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558418 ..and I bet you didn't miss work because of this ;) ..and I bet you didn't miss work because of this ;)

]]> By: Charlie Perry http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558393 Charlie Perry Mon, 19 May 2008 18:08:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558393 Try this: Go in a pitch dark room and let your eyes dark adjust. Keeping your eyes open, fire off a flash camera (fire it at what's in front of you--not in your eyes!). The whole room will be "burned on your retina for about 30 seconds. Even though it's pitch dark you will still be able to see an image of the room! Try this: Go in a pitch dark room and let your eyes dark adjust. Keeping your eyes open, fire off a flash camera (fire it at what's in front of you--not in your eyes!). The whole room will be "burned on your retina for about 30 seconds. Even though it's pitch dark you will still be able to see an image of the room!

]]> By: Jess http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558338 Jess Mon, 19 May 2008 17:32:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558338 Oh, and Chris, the effect you're talking about happens is a result of the cells in your "visual area" in the occipital lobe of the brain being excited, but then inhibited so that you get an after-effect where you see the opposite of the image (e.g. light parts will look dark, and the colours will look like their opposite too). Oh, and Chris, the effect you're talking about happens is a result of the cells in your "visual area" in the occipital lobe of the brain being excited, but then inhibited so that you get an after-effect where you see the opposite of the image (e.g. light parts will look dark, and the colours will look like their opposite too).

]]> By: Jess http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558331 Jess Mon, 19 May 2008 17:27:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558331 Well I tried it and it works, Xinavera. The mechanism behind this effect is likely to be more than just pupil dilation. It's probably more about the rod and cone receptors in operation at the back of your retina. Once the effect is happening, the eye that had been covered will have adjusted to receiving input predominantly from your rods (which are more sensitive to light and shape but not to colour), this helps us see better in the dark. And the eye that was exposed to the light would be receiving input mostly from your cones (which are less sensitive to light and more sensitive to colour). Because cones are less sensitive to light, they don't allow us to see in the dark as easily. Usually, we use both types of receptors, but as the light in our eyes increases, we begin to rely more on our cones, and as it decreases, we rely more on our rods. Well I tried it and it works, Xinavera.
The mechanism behind this effect is likely to be more than just pupil dilation.
It's probably more about the rod and cone receptors in operation at the back of your retina. Once the effect is happening, the eye that had been covered will have adjusted to receiving input predominantly from your rods (which are more sensitive to light and shape but not to colour), this helps us see better in the dark. And the eye that was exposed to the light would be receiving input mostly from your cones (which are less sensitive to light and more sensitive to colour). Because cones are less sensitive to light, they don't allow us to see in the dark as easily.
Usually, we use both types of receptors, but as the light in our eyes increases, we begin to rely more on our cones, and as it decreases, we rely more on our rods.

]]> By: Chris http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558273 Chris Mon, 19 May 2008 16:42:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558273 Reminds of of another cool eye trick. When I was a kid, we'd turn off all the lights and wait for our eyes to adjust. Then you set of a flash bulb. The entire room appears as an afterimage with perfect detail. Very neat. Reminds of of another cool eye trick.

When I was a kid, we'd turn off all the lights and wait for our eyes to adjust. Then you set of a flash bulb. The entire room appears as an afterimage with perfect detail. Very neat.

]]> By: Orjan S Morjan http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558269 Orjan S Morjan Mon, 19 May 2008 16:40:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558269 Xinavera, I thought I was the only one who thinks questioning facts is funny! Try covering up an eye and see what happens when you uncover it in 5 minutes. Xinavera, I thought I was the only one who thinks questioning facts is funny!

Try covering up an eye and see what happens when you uncover it in 5 minutes.

]]> By: Xinavera http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558245 Xinavera Mon, 19 May 2008 16:23:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558245 I'm skeptical of this. IIRC, pupils react together, so even one eye covered will react to a bright light in the other eye. Pupils of different sizes is a good sign of brain injury. I'm skeptical of this. IIRC, pupils react together, so even one eye covered will react to a bright light in the other eye. Pupils of different sizes is a good sign of brain injury.

]]> By: priscilla http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558186 priscilla Mon, 19 May 2008 15:53:47 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558186 This happens when i lay in bed on my side and one of my eyes is buried in my bed and the other one is looking out. it is weird. oohh also when i used to work in the darkroom and one eye would be looking through the grain focuser staring at light. the other closed. This happens when i lay in bed on my side and one of my eyes is buried in my bed and the other one is looking out. it is weird.
oohh also when i used to work in the darkroom and one eye would be looking through the grain focuser staring at light. the other closed.

]]> By: Man or Monster http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558167 Man or Monster Mon, 19 May 2008 15:37:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558167 L.C., welcome to The Internet. L.C., welcome to The Internet.

]]> By: definitelyme http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558113 definitelyme Mon, 19 May 2008 15:05:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558113 I guess houses in the US (?) are just a lot bigger. Apologies for going off topic. I guess houses in the US (?) are just a lot bigger. Apologies for going off topic.

]]> By: L.C. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558082 L.C. Mon, 19 May 2008 14:34:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558082 Why are you people always so goddamn critical of everything? Why are you people always so goddamn critical of everything?

]]> By: Dave Munger http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-558045 Dave Munger Mon, 19 May 2008 14:09:38 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-558045 Wow, and here we were thinking we were frugal when we built our house and didn't give our kids each their own *private* bathroom. However, I hear where you're coming from, definitelyme. The house I live in now seems quite luxurious to me. I grew up in rental houses, and there was always just one bathroom shared between four people. We didn't even have a kitchen table big enough for the whole family to eat at. Wow, and here we were thinking we were frugal when we built our house and didn't give our kids each their own *private* bathroom.

However, I hear where you're coming from, definitelyme. The house I live in now seems quite luxurious to me. I grew up in rental houses, and there was always just one bathroom shared between four people. We didn't even have a kitchen table big enough for the whole family to eat at.

]]> By: Jess http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557958 Jess Mon, 19 May 2008 12:51:19 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557958 Neat trick by the way. Rods and cones guys, rods and cones. Neat trick by the way. Rods and cones guys, rods and cones.

]]> By: Jess http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557949 Jess Mon, 19 May 2008 12:45:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557949 Plenty of houses have multiple bathrooms, definitelyme. Plenty of houses have multiple bathrooms, definitelyme.

]]> By: definitelyme http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557885 definitelyme Mon, 19 May 2008 11:46:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557885 What's even more fascinating than this eye closing phenomenon is that Mr. Munger has a separate bathroom for his kids. Does he have a separate kitchen for them to cook their own meals in too? What's even more fascinating than this eye closing phenomenon is that Mr. Munger has a separate bathroom for his kids. Does he have a separate kitchen for them to cook their own meals in too?

]]> By: Max Power http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557869 Max Power Mon, 19 May 2008 11:32:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557869 jmp, nonetheless the eye patch seems to work for that cause. :) jmp,

nonetheless the eye patch seems to work for that cause. :)

]]> By: jmp478 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557783 jmp478 Mon, 19 May 2008 10:26:49 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557783 hanguker, you can thank Walt Disney for that pirate stereotype. hanguker, you can thank Walt Disney for that pirate stereotype.

]]> By: Shay http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557740 Shay Mon, 19 May 2008 09:37:54 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557740 Wow. Sort of like a phantom limb sensation. I have the opposite feeling when I'm entering a hypnocogic state (between sleeping and wakefulness). My eyes are closed but my mind thinks they are still looking around the room! Wow. Sort of like a phantom limb sensation.

I have the opposite feeling when I'm entering a hypnocogic state (between sleeping and wakefulness). My eyes are closed but my mind thinks they are still looking around the room!

]]> By: hanguker http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/19/how-to-make-your-eye-feels-like-its-closed-even-though-its-open/comment-page-1/#comment-557653 hanguker Mon, 19 May 2008 08:29:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=16334#comment-557653 I've heard that is one of the reasons pirates wore eye patches (via Mythbusters..great show). So that when they went below deck they could remove the eye patch and have a good eye for seeing in the dark. Similar to the experience you had. I've heard that is one of the reasons pirates wore eye patches (via Mythbusters..great show). So that when they went below deck they could remove the eye patch and have a good eye for seeing in the dark. Similar to the experience you had.

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