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Publication
Correlatos psicológicos de visão com pontos de luz numa amostra não-clínica
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A neve visual é um fenómeno visual que remete para a analogia de queda de neve ou
estática de um televisor analógico por sintonizar preenchendo todo o campo visual.
Devido à existência de queixas de incómodo associadas à sua visualização emergiu o
conceito de “síndrome de neve visual”. Contudo, na população geral, abundam relatos
informais de visualização de pontos de luz que se assemelham à descrição da neve
visual e que não causam incómodo em quem os visualiza. O presente estudo procurou
analisar a prevalência e os correlatos da visão com pontos de luz (VPL) em população
não clínica. A amostra contou com 223 participantes. A frequência de VPL foi avaliada
através da questão “Qual a percentagem de tempo em que, de olhos abertos, vê o seu
campo visual cheio de pequenos pontos de luz?” As respostas variaram entre 0%
(nunca) a 100% (sempre).” Verificou-se que 104 (46.6%) participantes referem vários
graus de frequência de VPL. Doze (5.4%) referiram a presença de VPL entre 80% e
100% do tempo. A frequência de VPL correlacionou-se com enxaqueca, tinnitus, afterimages,
ansiedade e propensão para estados de atenção absorta. Constatou-se que em
algumas pessoas a VPL provoca incómodo, noutras provoca fascínio ou uma
combinação de ambos. Os resultados são congruentes com muitos relatos informais
existentes na internet. Ter o campo visual cheio de pontos de luz parece ser um
fenómeno relativamente comum, não existindo obrigatoriamente incómodo associado à
sua visualização.
Visual snow is a visual phenomenon which refers to an analogy of snowfall or the noise of analogue television occupying the entire visual field. Due to the annoyance complaints associated with its viewing, the concept of “visual snow syndrome” emerged. However, in the general population, there are abundant anecdotal reports of viewing dots of light that resemble the description of visual snow and do not cause discomfort to those who visualise them. The present study sought to analyze the prevalence and the correlates of light-dotted vision (LDV) in a non-clinical population. The sample had 223 participants. The frequency of LDV was assessed by the question: “What percentage of time, with eyes open, do you see your visual field full of tiny dots of light?”. Answers ranged from 0% (never) to 100% (always). 104 (46.6%) participants reported varying degrees of LDV frequency. Twelve (5.4%) reported the presence of LDV between 80% and 100% of the time. The frequency of LDV correlated with migraine, tinnitus, after-images, anxiety and propensity for experiencing states of absorbed attention. It was found that in some people LDV causes discomfort, in others it causes fascination or a combination of both. The results are congruent with many anecdotal reports on the internet. Having the visual field full of dots of light seems to be a relatively common phenomenon, and there is not necessarily any discomfort associated with their visualization.
Visual snow is a visual phenomenon which refers to an analogy of snowfall or the noise of analogue television occupying the entire visual field. Due to the annoyance complaints associated with its viewing, the concept of “visual snow syndrome” emerged. However, in the general population, there are abundant anecdotal reports of viewing dots of light that resemble the description of visual snow and do not cause discomfort to those who visualise them. The present study sought to analyze the prevalence and the correlates of light-dotted vision (LDV) in a non-clinical population. The sample had 223 participants. The frequency of LDV was assessed by the question: “What percentage of time, with eyes open, do you see your visual field full of tiny dots of light?”. Answers ranged from 0% (never) to 100% (always). 104 (46.6%) participants reported varying degrees of LDV frequency. Twelve (5.4%) reported the presence of LDV between 80% and 100% of the time. The frequency of LDV correlated with migraine, tinnitus, after-images, anxiety and propensity for experiencing states of absorbed attention. It was found that in some people LDV causes discomfort, in others it causes fascination or a combination of both. The results are congruent with many anecdotal reports on the internet. Having the visual field full of dots of light seems to be a relatively common phenomenon, and there is not necessarily any discomfort associated with their visualization.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA - Instituto
Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na
especialidade de Psicologia da Saúde
Keywords
Neve visual Síndrome de neve visual População não clínica Visão com pontos de luz Visual snow Visual snow Syndrome Non-clinical population Light- dotted vision.