Dermo-optical perception
Encyclopedia
Dermo-optical perception (DOP)—also known as dermal vision, dermo-optics, eyeless sight, eyeless vision, skin vision, skin reading, finger vision, paroptic vision, para-optic perception, cutaneous perception, digital sight, and bio-introscopy—are terms that are used in parapsychological
literature to denote the alleged capability to perceive colors, differences in brightness, and/or formed images through the skin (without using the eyes, as distinct from blindsight
), especially upon touching with the fingertips.
Typically, people who claim to have dermo-optical perception claim to be able to see using the skin of their fingers or hands. People who claim to have DOP often demonstrate it by reading while blindfolded.
The effect has not still been proven scientifically.
Life
magazine reported on several cases on June 12, 1964, and on April 19, 1937, calling them "X-ray wonders", but all of them were found to be cheating when tested under controlled conditions.
Studies done by Western scientists showed no effect, while studies done by Eastern scientists always showed this effect. The positive results have not been accepted because their procedures were probably not tight enough to prevent cheating by participants; also, the lack of proper documentation doesn't allow to check if the controls were really good enough. There are also problems with replicating the effect reliably, and concerns about the colors being recognized by the texture of the ink on the paper (people who are blind from an early age can recognize Braille
patters that only have .2 millimeters of elevation above the paper, and the limit of relief distinction in fingers is still unknown). In summary, DOP is not still proven scientifically.
Most of DOP positive results have been explained as cheating by participants, either via the use of magicians' tricks, or via "peeking down the nose" (cheating by participants) However, some of the results can't be explained by cheating. In recent years, DOP has been the object of "mainstream" research that had no links with ESP.
Apart from the "cheating" explanation, there are several hypothesis about how fingers could "see" radiation emitted by the colors in the paper, but none has been tested successfully. For example, people can hold their fingers near to painted and non-painted surfaces, and distinguish them by how much corporal heath is radiated back to their fingers. It has not been verified if fingers can be sensitive enough to detect heat radiation from different inks in paper, and it's theorized that blind people could plausibly do it.
The low quality of many studies, the cheating, the discovery that the most famous cases were just frauds, the use by ESP proponents, and the similarity to the tricks used by Chinese Qigong
masters have caused DOP to be classified as pseudoscience
and to be dismissed as baseless paranormal claims. However, there are indications that DOP is a real effect and that it can be explained by mainstream science, and there is still serious research about how it works.
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
literature to denote the alleged capability to perceive colors, differences in brightness, and/or formed images through the skin (without using the eyes, as distinct from blindsight
Blindsight
Blindsight is a phenomenon in which people who are perceptually blind in a certain area of their visual field demonstrate some response to visual stimuli...
), especially upon touching with the fingertips.
Typically, people who claim to have dermo-optical perception claim to be able to see using the skin of their fingers or hands. People who claim to have DOP often demonstrate it by reading while blindfolded.
The effect has not still been proven scientifically.
Scientific assessment
The first Western scientific reports are from the 17th century. Scattered cases kept being reported over the years, but scientific interest didn't pick up until the 20th century. ESP researchers enthusiastically studied DOP, hoping that it was an example of extra-sensory perception, but they could only conclude that some of the results couldn't be explained by cheating.Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine reported on several cases on June 12, 1964, and on April 19, 1937, calling them "X-ray wonders", but all of them were found to be cheating when tested under controlled conditions.
Studies done by Western scientists showed no effect, while studies done by Eastern scientists always showed this effect. The positive results have not been accepted because their procedures were probably not tight enough to prevent cheating by participants; also, the lack of proper documentation doesn't allow to check if the controls were really good enough. There are also problems with replicating the effect reliably, and concerns about the colors being recognized by the texture of the ink on the paper (people who are blind from an early age can recognize Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
patters that only have .2 millimeters of elevation above the paper, and the limit of relief distinction in fingers is still unknown). In summary, DOP is not still proven scientifically.
Most of DOP positive results have been explained as cheating by participants, either via the use of magicians' tricks, or via "peeking down the nose" (cheating by participants) However, some of the results can't be explained by cheating. In recent years, DOP has been the object of "mainstream" research that had no links with ESP.
Apart from the "cheating" explanation, there are several hypothesis about how fingers could "see" radiation emitted by the colors in the paper, but none has been tested successfully. For example, people can hold their fingers near to painted and non-painted surfaces, and distinguish them by how much corporal heath is radiated back to their fingers. It has not been verified if fingers can be sensitive enough to detect heat radiation from different inks in paper, and it's theorized that blind people could plausibly do it.
The low quality of many studies, the cheating, the discovery that the most famous cases were just frauds, the use by ESP proponents, and the similarity to the tricks used by Chinese Qigong
Qigong
Qigong or chi kung is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation...
masters have caused DOP to be classified as pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
and to be dismissed as baseless paranormal claims. However, there are indications that DOP is a real effect and that it can be explained by mainstream science, and there is still serious research about how it works.