title: Visual discrimination between a curved and straight path of self motion: effects of forward speed.
abstract: We measured path-deviation thresholds for discrimination between forward movement along a straight and a curved path as forward speed was varied. Stimuli were computer-generated images simulating an observer moving relative to a volume of randomly-positioned dots. Predictions generated from a computer simulation of Rieger's [(1983) Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 73, 339-344] model indicate that the required deviation for the discrimination of a curved from straight path should decrease with increasing forward speed up to a point and then level off. Psychophysical results were opposite to the model predictions; the deviation required to detect a departure from a straight path increased with forward speed. Path curvature remained nearly constant across forward speeds for a constant level of discrimination performance.
authors.affiliation: Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turano
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011601:Psychophysics; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors