A luminous stimulus in the dark may abruptly vanish or fragment, as if it were a fixed image. Current methodology is reviewed with consideration of effects of procedures on eye movements, attention, and point of fixation disappearances caused by insensitivity of the dark adapted fovea. A study is desirable which shows procedural differences like those in current research significantly modify results. Perceptual phenomena other than disappearance are present and may compete with disappearances during stimulus inspection. A procedure is suggested for regularly obtaining disappearances and reducing artifacts. Our interpretation emphasizes the interaction of central and peripheral variables and the concept of the phase sequence.
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