Document Detail


Peripheral sensitivity to biological motion conveyed by first and second-order signals.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19895827     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
There is evidence that human observers are more sensitive to the direction-of-heading of point-light walkers defined by first-order than second-order motions. We addressed this question by measuring the minimum direction difference (azimuth) that observers could discriminate when the dots composing the walkers were conveyed by first or second-order motions. Sensitivity to azimuth differences for four stimulus types (two first-order and two second-order) was tested at a range of stimulus sizes and at eccentricities of 0-16 degrees in the right visual field. We find that for most stimulus types and eccentricities any azimuth threshold can be obtained by an appropriate adjustment of stimulus size. To achieve a given azimuth threshold second-order stimuli must be larger than the corresponding first-order stimuli. Therefore, stimulus magnification equates sensitivity to walker direction and we may say that sensitivity to walker direction is generally cue-independent. Similarly, in most cases stimulus magnification is sufficient to eliminate eccentricity dependent variability from the azimuth thresholds. Interestingly, the magnification required match peripheral to foveal thresholds increases faster with eccentricity for first-order stimuli than for second-order stimuli, while at the same time thresholds for first-order stimuli are lower than those for second-order stimuli at corresponding sizes and eccentricities.
Authors:
Rick Gurnsey; Nikolaus F Troje
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-11-04
Journal Detail:
Title:  Vision research     Volume:  50     ISSN:  1878-5646     ISO Abbreviation:  Vision Res.     Publication Date:  2010 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-01-29     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0417402     Medline TA:  Vision Res     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  127-35     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4B 1R6. Rick.Gurnsey@concordia.ca
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