Exploring the time course of staring induced dissociation and uncertainty about visual perception

Abstract

Earlier studies found that perseverative checking provokes memory distrust for checked stimuli, suggesting that compulsive checking is a counterproductive strategy to increase memory confidence. Obsessive compulsive uncertainty also occurs for functions other than memory, like perception. A previous study on OC-like perseveration found that perseverative staring causes dissociation and uncertainty about perception. In the current study with eighty healthy volunteers it was tested when this phenomenon sets in. Five conditions that differed in duration of visual perseveration were compared. Analysis of Variance showed a significant increase between pre- and post-test for both uncertainty and dissociation. More importantly, the increases set in after a short period of visual perseveration. These findings indicate that increasing dissociation and uncertainty about perception is a rapid occurring phenomenon, and therefore not an artefact of laboratory studies.