Random Research: Optic Noise

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

I've recently found that the relatively high levels of visual static we see don't seem to be a standard part of the human experience. It's potentially getting into the realm of Weird Neurological Stuff, for which very little information is to be had. This survey is an attempt pin down whether it's related to any of the other unusual states of being we might be part of, or refute the idea that it's not human standard.


The experiment:
I. Go into a brightly lit area with a sheet of white paper (blank on both sides).

II. Hold the paper in front of you, in a shadow, and note the level of visual static you notice.

III. Then, stand so the paper is well lit, and note any differences in the amount of static (absolute and relative, if it matters in your case)

IV. Next, stand so the page is in shadow again. Take note of any differences in the level of static.

V. If possible, go someplace very dark and note the level of static. If you can see the sheet of paper, it's probably not dark enough. :)


Demographics:
1. Are you multiple? Do you have Aspergers' or autism? Do you have ADD?
1a. Do results for the static test differ depending on who's fronting?

2. Have you ever had a concussion? More than one?

3. Have you ever used a substance known to cause hallucinations and/or related flashbacks? (This includes accidentally overdosing on cough syrup. Not sure how many answers I'll get, but figured I'd ask anyway.)
3a. If yes, did you notice a difference in levels of static before and afterwards?

4. Do you have a personal or family history of depression or related conditions?

5. Do you think banana slugs are neat? (Because I can.)

6. What's your MBTI type?


All questions are optional. Feel free to reply as anonymous, but please don't deliberately skew the results.

X-posted from here to Xibalba and back.

Comments

My responses:

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

II. Typical for me.
III. Less than usual (drowned out by bright light).
IV. Typical.
V. Strong (walking around in the dark is difficult - all the static gets in the way, and there's nothing to distract from it).

In general, it's like viewing the world as a slightly snowy TV screen. Relatively flat/textureless surfaces, in dim lighting, will bring it out best.

1. Multiple. ADD: Not sure. Aspergers': Not sure. Autism: No.
1a. No.
2. Not that I know of. No history of head injuries that I'm aware of.
3. No. (Probably not for the cough syrup, too.)
4. Yes, both, depression.
5. Of course. :)
6. INTP (Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perciever)

[(Anonymous)]

I've talked with this about my mother, and was surprised when she said she didn't experience the same type of thing. I've always noticed this, and it does seem to get worse in dim lighting, and is one reason why I dislike driving at night.

1. Multiple. No to the rest, including 1a.
2. Not that I know of.
3. No
4. Bipolar disorder runs in my family
5. Very much so.
6. INFP

And a question out of curiousity, why are you asking this?

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out if the static is a part of some larger puzzle. I've some problems with concentration, and am currently looking into whether things like ADD or Aspergers' syndrome are features of the body. The former because it is a problem with the ability to concentrate, the latter because that can be a secondary feature, and there seems to be a higher rate of multiplicity among those with Aspergers'. (The experiment has been crossposted to a few multiple communities, two Aspergers' discussion communities, and one (there should be a second along shortly) community for those with ADD. Oh, and the INTP central forums, for a control group.)

[changelyng14.livejournal.com]

II none
III none (maybe a little)
IV none
V lots

1. multiple
1a. only ones tried

2. many
3. yes.
3a. don't know
4. personal depression
5. banana slugs RULE! (but i find them rather messy)
6.ENFP

Tia of changelyng

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

What is visual static?

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

See my reply to Sethrenn, below. :)

Also: http://p210.ezboard.com/fthosewithvisualsnowfrm1 (courtesy of nynomi).

[sethrenn.livejournal.com]

By visual static, do you mean things like 'floaters' in your field of vision? My personal experience is that while everyone's got them, certain people are more likely to notice them or be distracted by them than others. It may have to do with how nearsighted/farsighted you are. I'm not sure if there is any general reseach on what constitutes normal here-- I haven't come across any, at least.

[36.livejournal.com]

We certainly get them and have noticed them since childhood.

[judiff]

we get a lot of floaters and flashing lights due to lattice degeneration in our eyes.
We've been told floaters are more comen/more commenly noticed in short sighted people and we know from experence how much you notice them depends onn loghting ans other enviromnetal stuff. Lattice degenration usually happens in short sihgted people and is norammly harmless but it does put you at more risk of deteached retina
There is also a natural aging process called PVD when people will notice more floaters for a while becos the vitreous (eye goo) is comng away from your retina. It's noramll and usually harmless but in people with latticed degenatrion it can be a problem.

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

We notice floaters more if we have to do a lot of visual focusing (say, reading or editing) on very little sleep.

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

Re: Floaters: Nope. I've noticed those as well, but it's not what I'm talking about here.

The static is a bit like watching broadcast TV during a thunderstorm, or switching to a station that isn't in use. Snow. Except transparent - it's an overlay across my entire field of vision, pretty much all the time, though dim lighting and untextured surfaces make it most noticable. It's usually not in the way, except with extremely dim lighting or in the dark.

[sethrenn.livejournal.com]

I know the things you mean, but I don't know the name for them. We always got it when staring at a white wall, or into the sky. I read somewhere that it's the movement of the rods and cones in your eyeballs, though it's kind of hard to look up information on them when you don't know what they're called...

[storyteller2001.livejournal.com]

we have this. we have since we were a kid

[mindrot.livejournal.com]

I'm know I'm not the target demographic, but it's intriguing enough that I had to try it. Results: dim light causes slight interference. Complete blackness has always involved a continual series of large moving shapes [think psychedelic fractals, but colorless]; extremely bright light [like staring at the sky on a sunny day] is like looking through a microscope, lots of flourescing spots [as if it's filled with fireflies that go from white to black randomly] and floaters that I'd always assumed were specks of dust or bacteria on some part of my eye . . . now I find myself staring at the blank spots on the walls trying to see the unseen, lol.

Demographics:
1. Singular, no Asp, no Aut, no ADD.
2. No concussions or head injuries of any type.
3. No wierd substances.
4. Personal & family history of depression.
5. Banana slugs are joy. :)
6. INFP, according to the test.

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

Every experiment needs a control group. Thanks for your response. *smiles*

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

We have never had any such experience of the type you describe.

We do have a nasty case of Cogan's microcystic epithelial dystrophy, but it does not affect our visual field. Sunglasses and salt ointment keep it under control.

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

go slugs! go slugs! go slugs!

(far far away from my lettuce)

they're cool as long as they don't eat my stuff

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

I'm a fire-breathing banana slug from outer space!