Binocular summation of second-order global motion signals in human vision

Hutchinson, Claire V.; Ledgeway, Tim; Allen, Harriet A.; Long, Mike D.; Arena, Amanda

Abstract

Although many studies have examined the principles governing first-order global motion perception, the mechanisms that mediate second-order global motion perception remain unresolved. This study investigated the existence, nature and extent of the binocular advantage for encoding second-order (contrast-defined) global motion. Motion coherence thresholds (79.4 % correct) were assessed for determining the direction of radial, rotational and translational second-order motion trajectories as a function of local element modulation depth (contrast) under monocular and binocular viewing conditions. We found a binocular advantage for second-order global motion processing for all motion types. This advantage was mainly one of enhanced modulation sensitivity, rather than of motion-integration. However, compared to findings for first-order motion where the binocular advantage was in the region of a factor of around 1.7 [Hess et al., 2007, Vision Research 47, 1682-1692 & the present study], the binocular advantage for second-order global 2 motion was marginal, being in the region of around 1.2. This weak enhancement in sensitivity with binocular viewing is considerably less than would be predicted by conventional models of either probability summation or neural summation.

Citation

Hutchinson, C. V., Ledgeway, T., Allen, H. A., Long, M. D., & Arena, A. (2013). Binocular summation of second-order global motion signals in human vision. Vision Research, 84, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2013.03.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 18, 2014
• Journal: Vision Research
• Print ISSN: 0042-6989
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-5646
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 84
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2013.03.004
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1004543
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042698913000679
• Additional Information: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Vision Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Vision Research, 84 (2013), doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2013.03.004