By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Inattentional Blindness and the Invisible Gorilla Study: Are Radiologists at Risk?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Education > Inattentional Blindness and the Invisible Gorilla Study: Are Radiologists at Risk?
DiagnosticsMedical EducationRadiologySpecialties

Inattentional Blindness and the Invisible Gorilla Study: Are Radiologists at Risk?

erica.carnevale
erica.carnevale
Share
4 Min Read
radiologists inattentional blindness
SHARE

radiologists inattentional blindnessNPR released an article recently that talked about the Invisible Gorilla Study, which is a piece of research that explains why when you ask someone to perform a challenging task their attention narrows and blocks out other things.

radiologists inattentional blindnessNPR released an article recently that talked about the Invisible Gorilla Study, which is a piece of research that explains why when you ask someone to perform a challenging task their attention narrows and blocks out other things. This behavior is called “inattentional blindness” and when a similar study was conducted with radiologists, 83% of them missed the gorilla in the image. This was due to the fact that the radiologists in the study weren’t focused on looking for a gorilla, but the lesions, tumors, etc. that they seek out on a routine basis.

A statistic like this can raise some questions among patients and the radiological community in general. The most obvious question being that if radiologists are looking for something specific, does this mean that they could miss signs that aren’t tied to an exam’s original purpose?

We reached out to Dr. Roger Eng, chairman of radiology, Chinese Hospital, and president of Golden Gate Radiology Medical Group, to get some answers about ‘inattentional blindness’ and what radiologists can do to combat it.

More Read

USPSTF Pushes Back on Hepatitis C Virus Mass Screening.
Boomer Voice: Forget the Mandate, Educate
If the Wife Takes an Antidepressant, is the Husband Protected From Suicide?
4 Ways To Hold Yourself Accountable For Your Addiction
How Big Data Hadoop Can Save Patients from a Crippling Healthcare System

Is there technology available that might help address ‘inattentional blindness’?

Recently, there has been more interest among vendors in addressing performance and quality aspects of the interpretive part of imaging. How does a radiologist approach evaluating an Abdominal CT scan? Followed by: how does he communicate those findings in written format to the referring clinician and/or patient? PACS systems may eventually offer the ability to double check if the radiologist mentioned specific findings or aid in identifying potential pathology outside of the breast and lung. Systems that decrease interruptions and allow the radiologist to focus more on interpretation itself will also help.

Can a radiologist train him/herself to overcome ‘inattentional blindness’?

A large body of evidence has shown there is significant variability in interpreting imaging studies. Part of this is due to inherent limitations in imaging technology differentiating normal from abnormal, along with the human error component. We also cannot underestimate the importance of clinical context of an imaging exam which is the interplay of multiple disparate data points from laboratory to patient history. IBM’s Watson supercomputer can trounce the best Jeopardy champion in raw knowledge, but cannot match the relational capabilities of human brain.

Radiologists may find answers from other industries where organizations and their personnel standardize workflow processes. Airline pilots and their checklists is the most obvious example that comes to mind.

Do you personally do anything to guard against this?

My practice approaches each imaging modality in a consistent algorithm. This workflow process is adjusted as data presents an improved way. Moreover, I am fortunate to be using RIS and PACS technology that minimizes the extraneous steps and distractions that can lead to inattention blindness.

(image: inattentional blindness & gorilla study/shutterstock)

TAGGED:inattentional blindness
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

SpecialtiesWellness

How Does CBD Help with Breast Cancer?

May 10, 2018
BusinessCardiologyNewsTechnology

LoneStar Heart is Focused on Preserving & Restoring Heart Functions to Heart Failure Patients

December 30, 2011
wisdom teeth
Dental healthSpecialties

X-Ray For Wisdom Teeth: How It Helps Plan Your Treatment

May 14, 2024
dental care tips for people in their twenties
Dental healthSpecialties

The Best Advice Your Dentist Can Give In Your Twenties

January 24, 2022
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?