#076 Do You See Everything? Inattentional Blindness
Dr. John DayDr. Day is a cardiologist specializing in heart rhythm abnormalities at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School and completed his residency and fellowships in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at Stanford University. He is the former president of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Utah chapter of the American College of Cardiology. |
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Do You See Everything? Inattentional Blindness
I was very worried about Jeff’s shortness of breath. He had difficulties even walking across the street. I was so concerned about his condition that I ordered a chest CT scan to evaluate his lungs.
I specifically told the radiologist that I wanted him to look at his lungs, specifically his pulmonary veins, very closely. To my initial relief, his chest CT report came back with no significant abnormal findings.
As I was still worried about his breathing I also ordered an ultrasound of his heart (echocardiogram). On his ultrasound I noticed that the main artery coming off of his heart, the aorta, was severely enlarged. This was an urgent surgical condition.
How Can the Obvious Be Missed?
An aortic aneurysm is a threatening complication as the aorta could rupture or dissect at anytime causing instant death. This is what happened to John Ritter from the famed TV show “Three’s Company.”
This made me wonder, why didn’t the radiologist see the severely enlarged aorta when a chest CT is a much better way to view the aorta than an echocardiogram. The aorta is a large structure in the center of the CT scan images. Why was nothing mentioned of the aorta on the report?
I picked up the phone and called the radiologist. This time he clearly saw the severely enlarged aortic aneurysm and quickly amended the report.
Fortunately, there was no delay in the diagnosis and Jeff did well.
Inattentional Blindness
This experience is what is often referred to by researchers as inattentional blindness. In other words, we may become blind to the obvious in front of us when our attention is compromised or we are distracted by something else. In this case, the radiologist was likely distracted by me asking him to focus on the lungs.
Test Yourself to See if You Also Suffer from Inattentional Blindness
In a famous study on inattentional blindness, researchers asked people to watch this video.
To test yourself to see if you also suffer from inattentional blindness, please stop reading this article and watch the video link above before continuing on with this article. Did you count the correct number of passes? The bigger question is, did you see the gorilla?
Interestingly, 50% of all people who take this test miss the gorilla. Half of all people become so distracted trying to count the passes that they completely miss the big gorilla in the center of the screen.
83% of Radiologists Suffer from Inattentional Blindness
It is extremely competitive for a U.S. medical student to obtain residency training in radiology. Radiology has historically been a highly sought after medical specialty. Thus, given how hard it is to get into radiology, let alone to get into a U.S. medical school, radiologists represent some of the brightest people in the country.
Interestingly, when radiologists are shown this CT scan and are asked to find the “cancer”, fully 83% of them miss the gorilla hiding in the CT scan. The problem is that they become so distracted trying to find the cancer their brains completely “tune out” the unexpected gorilla on the CT scan.
Did you see the gorilla in this CT scan?
We All Suffer from Inattentional Blindness
It is not just radiologists that suffer from inattentional blindness. There are classic reports of airplane crashes where pilots missed an instrument, right in front of them, telling them that their plane was losing altitude and would soon be crashing into the ground.
The same can happen to us. Have you ever missed your exit on the freeway while talking on the phone? Have you ever wondered if you locked the door of your house after you left? Have you missed what your child was trying to tell you while you were busy with a work project, trying to make dinner, or just playing with your phone?
How much more effective would we be at work or at home if we simply paid attention to everything going on around us?
5 Ways to Overcome Inattentional Blindness
In order to battle against inattentional blindness and become fully aware of what is really happening around us, we need to know when it is most likely to occur. The following are common situations of when inattentional blindness is likely to happen:
1. Don’t Multitask
Multitasking is really the art of messing up several things at once. Focus on one task at a time and you will be less likely to be distracted. Tune into your significant other or your child when they are trying to talk to you.
2. Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin
If you are tired or feel overwhelmed then you are more likely to miss the obvious. Our brains can become tired and frazzled if we don’t take the time to care for ourselves and manage stress.
3. Expect the Unexpected
If something appears that is completely unexpected then your brain may subconsciously dismiss it as “noise.” This is what happened in the gorilla radiologist study.
Your spouse, coworker, customer, or even your child may be trying to tell you something important. If your brain subconsciously tunes out the subtle physical cues, you may completely miss the warning signs of impending challenges.
4. Have a Checklist
Radiologists and pilots have to have a check list or a systematic way of doing what they do every day. If not, something will be missed.
The same is true for us. Every time we drive, prepare a presentation, or just spend time with our families we should have a mental checklist as well to make sure nothing is missed. For example, I have a checklist that helps me to connect with each family member and coworker daily. This helps me to stay connected to the people most important in my life.
5. Make a Mental Note of What You See
If we are not careful we will suddenly wake up on our death bed and realize that we missed most of the really important things in life. Carefully note the flowers or the leaves when you go on a walk. Remember the smile of your child. Savor the warm embrace of a loved one.
It is not too late to see the really important and obvious things in life! Start today! Put down the smart phone or iPad and tune in to what life has given you.
How do you make sure you “tune in” to life?
Disclaimer Policy: This website is intended to give general information and does not provide medical advice. This website does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. John Day. If you have a medical problem, immediately contact your healthcare provider. Information on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Dr. John Day is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your medical decisions.
Great article, Dr. Day! It is amazing to me how often medical professionals can miss the obvious. In my case, I’ve had a radiologist miss a broken navicular bone and let me tell you, going through physical therapy with a broken foot is NOT fun. More importantly though, four different cardiologists in 15 years missed my obvious heart murmur and low heart rates.
After cardiologist number four told me “there is nothing wrong with your heart” and “you have anxiety” I determined I would NEVER go to see another cardiologist again. It was too upsetting and waaay too stressful to be told it was all in my head when I felt so crummy all the time. I left more than one cardiologist appointment sobbing.
It took my lips turning blue and having to lie down in the middle of JC Penney (talk about embarrassing) to get me to consent to go to another physician. Even then it was with much kicking and screaming… Thank heavens that doctor sent me to you! Many thanks for not missing the gorilla in my case!
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for your comments! Yes, I am glad the gorilla was not missed in your case!
John