We propose a series of human psychophysical experiments to answer questions in two broad areas. What are the basic mechanisms of image motion processing and what are the functional benefits. In terms of mechanism, we focus at an itermediate level of analysis, askig how the signals from elementary motion subunits combine information over time, space, and spatial scale. Our primary psychophysical task will be to discriminate the direction of motion, measuring contrast thresholds, signaltonoise ratio thresholds, and minimum displacement thresholds (Dmin). One study will obtain ratings of the perceived rigidity of moving figures. In terms of the functional benefits of motion processing, we will study 3 areas; first we will measure the precision of localization of motiondefined boundaries using a width discrimination task. Second, we will investigate motionindepth sensitivity, asking whether it can be related to monocular motion sensitivity; whether it can be altered by monoclonal motion adaptation; and whether it can be supported by a cyclopean motion stimulus which has no monocular motion information. Third, we will investigate how motion processing might play a role in recalibrating the depthfromdisparity signal.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY006522-08
Application #
3262812
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1990-07-01
Project End
1992-07-31
Budget Start
1991-08-01
Budget End
1992-07-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
071723621
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02138
Shimojo, S; Nakayama, K (1990) Real world occlusion constraints and binocular rivalry. Vision Res 30:69-80
Shimojo, S; Nakayama, K (1990) Amodal representation of occluded surfaces: role of invisible stimuli in apparent motion correspondence. Perception 19:285-99
Shimojo, S; Silverman, G H; Nakayama, K (1989) Occlusion and the solution to the aperture problem for motion. Vision Res 29:619-26
McKee, S P; Silverman, G H; Nakayama, K (1986) Precise velocity discrimination despite random variations in temporal frequency and contrast. Vision Res 26:609-19