Volume 9, Number 1, Article 30, Pages 1-14 doi:10.1167/9.1.30 http://journalofvision.org/9/1/30/ ISSN 1534-7362
Spatial and temporal limits of motion perception across variations in speed, eccentricity, and low vision
Joseph S. Lappin
Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Duje Tadin
Center for Visual Science and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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Jeffrey B. Nyquist
Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Anne L. Corn
Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Abstract

We evaluated spatial displacement and temporal duration thresholds for discriminating the motion direction of gratings for a broad range of speeds (0.06°/s to 30°/s) in fovea and at ±30° eccentricity. In general, increased speed yielded lower duration thresholds but higher displacement thresholds. In most conditions, these effects of speed were comparable in fovea and periphery, yielding relatively similar thresholds not correlated with decreased peripheral acuity. The noteworthy exceptions were interactive effects at slow speeds: (1) Displacement thresholds for peripheral motion were affected by acuity limits for speeds below 0.5°/s. (2) Low-vision observers with congenital nystagmus had elevated thresholds for peripheral motion and slow foveal motion but resembled typically sighted observers for foveal motions at speeds above 1°/s. (3) Suppressive center–surround interactions were absent below 0.5°/s and their strength increased with speed. Overall, these results indicate qualitatively different sensitivities to slow and fast motions. Thresholds for very slow motion are limited by spatial resolution, while thresholds for fast motion are probably limited by temporal resolution.

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History
Received July 2, 2008; published January 22, 2009
Citation
Lappin, J. S., Tadin, D., Nyquist, J. B., & Corn, A. L. (2009). Spatial and temporal limits of motion perception across variations in speed, eccentricity, and low vision. Journal of Vision, 9(1):30, 1-14, http://journalofvision.org/9/1/30/, doi:10.1167/9.1.30.
Keywords
motion, speed, direction, peripheral vision, eccentricity, acuity, low vision, nystagmus, surround suppression
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