title: Contrast, contours and the confusion effect in dazzle camouflage.
abstract: 'Motion dazzle camouflage' is the name for the putative effects of highly conspicuous, often repetitive or complex, patterns on parameters important in prey capture, such as the perception of speed, direction and identity. Research into motion dazzle camouflage is increasing our understanding of the interactions between visual tracking, the confusion effect and defensive coloration. However, there is a paucity of research into the effects of contrast on motion dazzle camouflage: is maximal contrast a prerequisite for effectiveness? If not, this has important implications for our recognition of the phenotype and understanding of the function and mechanisms of potential motion dazzle camouflage patterns. Here we tested human participants' ability to track one moving target among many identical distractors with surface patterns designed to test the influence of these factors. In line with previous evidence, we found that targets with stripes parallel to the object direction of motion were hardest to track. However, reduction in contrast did not significantly influence this result. This finding may bring into question the utility of current definitions of motion dazzle camouflage, and means that some animal patterns, such as aposematic or mimetic stripes, may have previously unrecognized multiple functions.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Benedict G
authors: 0000-0001-6762-7738
authors: BG
authors: Hogan
authors: School of Experimental Psychology , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.
authors: Nicholas E
authors: NE
authors: Scott-Samuel
authors: School of Biological Sciences , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.
authors: Innes C
authors: IC
authors: Cuthill
keywords: confusion effect; dazzle camouflage; defensive coloration; target tracking