Document Detail


Orientation discrimination for objects defined by relative motion and objects defined by luminance contrast.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  2635467     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A bar-shaped area within a pattern of random dots was demarcated by moving the dots within the bar at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of dots outside the bar. Orientation discrimination for this motion-defined dotted bar was compared with orientation discrimination for a contrast-defined dotted bar that was created by switching off all dots outside the bar. Orientation discrimination was approximately as acute (approx. 0.5 deg) for a motion-defined bar as for a contrast-defined dotted bar, provided that dot contrast and speed were both high. Furthermore, this 0.5 deg discrimination compares with the most acute values reported for sharp-edged lines and sinewave gratings. For the motion-defined bar discrimination fell off rapidly when dot contrast was reduced, but remained acute for the contrast-defined bar for a further reduction of 0.6 log units. Thus, there was a 4:1 range of contrasts over which discrimination had collapsed for the motion-defined bar but remained acute for the contrast-defined bar. For the motion-defined bar discrimination also fell off rapidly at low dot speeds, but was almost unaffected by speed for the contrast-defined bar. These findings bear on the question whether orientation of motion-defined and contrast-defined bars are analyzed by the same or by different neural mechanisms, and pose a challenge for current theories of orientation discrimination.
Authors:
D Regan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Vision research     Volume:  29     ISSN:  0042-6989     ISO Abbreviation:  Vision Res.     Publication Date:  1989  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1990-06-14     Completed Date:  1990-06-14     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0417402     Medline TA:  Vision Res     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1389-400     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology BSB, York University, Ontario, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Contrast Sensitivity / physiology*
Humans
Light*
Male
Middle Aged
Motion Perception / physiology*
Orientation / physiology*
Space Perception / physiology
Visual Pathways

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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