Blind Spot Lab

Questions

1. What is the blind spot and where is it located?

2. Explain your observations in the dot and cross experiment.

Discussion

The blind spot/scotoma can be defined as a portion of the visual field that is obstructed. It is
the area where there are no photo receptor cells, meaning that when you look at an object or
area, no image is formed because the scotoma cannot detect light, which therefore means you
cannot see anything in that certain area. The cause of this is the fact that there are no pigment
cells (or as previously stated, no photo receptor cells) in that region of the eye. The region in
which the blind spot is located is on the retina, also known as the optic disk/punctum caecum
where the optic nerve fiber exits the back of the eye. Every person has a blind spot in both of
their eyes. Blind spots are completely normal, and are not anything you need to worry about,
unless you begin to face vision issues. It was observed in the dot and cross experiment that
when the subject’s right eye was covered and the paper was brought towards the subject’s
face, the subject stated that the cross disappeared. When the same actions were made with the
subject’s left eye covered, the subject observed that the dot disappeared.

Observations

When the left eye was covered and the subject focused their right eye on the dot, the paper
was slowly brought towards the subject’s face. The subject stated that the when this action
occurred, the cross gradually got lighter, and then disappeared. These same actions were
taken when the subject’s right eye was closed and their left eye was focused on the cross, and
the subject stated that the dot slowly got lighter and then disappeared.