Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss
Published on: April 11, 2025
A Cerebral Basis for Visual Discomfort and Visual Stress
Paul B Hibbard1, Peter Allen2, Jordi M Asher1
1School of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
Abstract:
Visual discomfort or visual stress is an uncomfortable subjective experience that occurs in response to specific visual stimuli. It affects a large proportion of the population to various degrees, disproportionately impacting those with heightened sensory sensitivities, particularly neurodivergent individuals. We argue that this might stem from a mismatch between the statistical properties of visual stimuli in human-made environments and those in natural environments that the visual system can process efficiently. We discuss the inefficiency with which images with certain spatial, chromatic and temporal characteristics are processed by the visual system and propose a cerebral mechanism to account for the discomfort they induce. The mechanism offers a potential explanation for the large individual differences in susceptibility to discomfort. We highlight two avenues for intervention: (1) environmental modifications aimed at reducing the prevalence of visually stressing stimuli in urban settings, and (2) individual-level strategies, such as personalised optical treatments. Addressing these challenges requires an interdisciplinary effort bridging neuroscience, vision science, interior and urban design and typography to create visually accessible and inclusive environments.
Related Concept Videos
Visual System
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Accessory Structures of the Eye
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Visual Agnosia
Psychological Responses to Stress

