The Troxler Effect

Our eyes continually move even while we fix our gaze on an object. We are largely unaware of this movement.  Then object that we stare at can completely fade from our awareness because our brains adapt to the steadiness of the image.  (1) The small, involuntary eye movements made when fixating on something fail to move the stimulus onto a new cell's receptive field, in effect giving unvarying stimulation.  So when our brain has unvarying stimulation, it tends to fade that image and focus only on that unsteady, changing images.


This is called the Troxler effect. Here is a demonstration of how much our visual system adapts to the environment:



Just stare at the center dot in this figure for about 15 seconds, and the outer ring should fade completely from view! (2)

This is because the unvarying stimuli soon disappear from our awareness.















Here is another example: if a small piece of paper is dropped on the inside of one's forearm, it is felt for a short period of time. Soon, however, the sensation fades away. This is because the tactile neurons have adapted and start to ignore the unimportant stimulus. But if one jiggles one's arm up and down, giving varying stimulation, one will continue to feel the paper. (3)

Simply stated the Troxler effect happens when things that are steady and unchanging in our visual field sometimes fade away from our awareness because the brain no longer recognizes the stable image.

This effect has spiritual application. In Helaman chapters 10 Nephi commands the people to repent. They had just witnessed a miraculous event when Nephi had told them about the death of the chief judge (v.13).  The amazing event was right in front of their eyes, yet they could not see it. They were blind to the obvious power of the Lord.  The steady unchanging doctrine of the Lord was so simple that it faded from their vision as they proudly looked inward believing that they needed no change.

Another example of this effect is in Helaman chapter 11.  When the steady comforts that the people enjoyed and took for granted became scarce, they began to see again all that they had been given, and pleaded for mercy.  The blessing of food that was so constant in their lives that it almost faded from their awareness. They essentially were blinded to the Lord's constant blessing that he provided for them because it was so steady and unchanging. Then when Nephi asks God for a famine, the sudden change in environment brings things back into perspective for the people and they begin to realize their constant dependence on the Lord.

Later in Helaman chapter 11, Nephi prays and asks for the famine to end, which it does. The rains come and the people prosper again. Once again the steady flow of blessings from the Lord causes "blindness" to the people as they adapt to their prosperity and stop seeing where their blessings are coming from.

In Helaman chapter 11 verse 34 we read, "Now this great evil, which came unto the people because of their iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of the Lord their God." The great evil that is referred to is talking about the Gadianton robbers who came into their lands and caused much destruction.  The Nephite people had to have things constantly stirred up in their lives in order to remember God.  When things got too calm, they would forget, and in essence experience the Troxler effect.

I have had this same effect in my life too.  When things are going well, I tend to forget why they are going well, and who is my benefactor.  I too need my world stirred up at times to help me to remember my God.

I believe that the simplicity of the gospel and the constant flow of blessings from our Heavenly Father can sometimes lull us to sleep, or cause our brains to shut out the obvious.  The only way to keep our hearts and minds from adapting to the pleasant circumstances is to continually keep pushing the refresh button in our brains. This is why we go to church and hear the same things over and over again. This is why we read the same books of scriptures again and again.  The natural man/woman in us will naturally stop seeing the steadiness of blessings unless we are constantly reminding ourselves of them.

 






Sources:

1.
http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v5/n3/full/nrn1348.html
2.
http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2009/10/02/casual-fridays-troxlers-not-fo/ 
3.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troxler's_fading