title: Induced self-motion in central vision.
abstract: Previous research on visually induced self-motion found that stimulation of the central visual field (up to 30 degrees in diameter) results in perceived object motion while self-motion requires peripheral stimulation. In the present study, perceived self-motion was induced with a radially expanding pattern simulating observer motion through a space filled with dots, with visual angles of 7.5 degrees, 10.6 degrees, 15 degrees, and 21.2 degrees. Speed and texture density were also varied. The duration of reported self-motion (a) decreased with increased speed, (b) failed to increase with increased visual angle, and (c) decreased with visual angle at the highest speed level. In a second experiment, subjects rated the perceived depth of the displays. The speed and speed/area interaction effects on judged depth matched those found for induced self-motion. These results suggest an extension of the focal/ambient theory: In addition to a more primitive ambient processing mode that requires peripheral vision, there is a higher level system concerned with ambient processing that functions in the central visual field and uses more complex stimulus information, such as internal depth represented in a radially expanding pattern.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Braunstein
mesh_terms: D003867:Depth Perception; D006801:Humans; D009039:Motion Perception; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000523:psychology; D009903:Optical Illusions; D013997:Time Factors; D014794:Visual Fields