Psychosomatic Medicine 32:277-284 (1970)
© 1970 American Psychosomatic Society

Visual Acuity and Stimulus-Seeking Behavior

¹ Veterans Administration Hospital, Brooklyn, NY

Address for reprint requests: Dr. R. Palmer, Psychology Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Brooklyn, NY

The classic concept of a sense organ as a passive receiver of stimulation is evolving toward a view that considers its exploratory capabilities and its implications for orientation and arousal. Recent research, for example, suggests that the pupillary response and fixation saccadic eye movements are directly implicated in processes of cortical activation. Results of this study suggest that visual acuity may also be better understood within an activation theory framework. Specifically, the position was taken that individuals with low visual acuity might be seen as persons with low preferred levels of activation who seek to reduce stimulus input to maintain activation at their preferred level. In support of this position, individuals with high uncorrected visual acuity were found to demonstrate a higher preferred level of stimulation and to produce more exciting and novel stories in response to TAT stimuli than did low-acuity individuals.