Non-visual information in structure-from-motion.
We examined whether non-visual signals improve visual perception of three-dimensional structure-from-motion. Observers discriminated curvature in quadratic surfaces defined by random dot cinematograms with limited lifetime. They either explored visually a static surface by making head movements that were fed back to the display (HM condition) or they viewed statically the same surface which now rotated (NHM condition). Both conditions showed a clear build-up of performance as lifetime increases, but with different time constants for the HM and NHM condition. A second experiment showed that these differences could not be caused by differences in motion detection for the HM and NHM conditions. We suggest that non-visual information is combined with visual information at a high stage of visual processing, and that it does not mainly serve as input for a retinal stabilization process.
van Damme
W J
WJ
Department of Comparative Physiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. DAMME@FYS1.FGG.EUR.NL
van de Grind
W A
WA
D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors