Development study of time, space and velocity estimations. 1

Abstract

The present experiment is a developmental study on interactions of estimated time, space and velocity. Psychological relativity in perception of time and space is well-known as tau-effect and kappa-effect. Although the effects are dynamic, static stimuli are usually used in these investigations. In the field of motion perception there are several investigations concerning interaction of time, space and velocity and most of the research failed in verifying the existence of tau- and kappa-effect.There are two methods in dealing with known and unknown qualities (Table 1). We adopted the Method I as it is simpler. Possible results in the case of Method I are shown in Table 2.Developmental investigation may make the interacting effects more clear, as young children may estimate time, space and velocity more interdependently than adults. The types and the number of subjects are in Table 4.The standard stimulus, a light patch, moves from right to left on the right side of the screen, in accordance with the conditions shown in Table 3. The reproduction stimulus, another light patch, appears on the left side of the screen when the exposure time of the standard stimulus is estimated. Subjects are requested to push the key when perceived exposure time of the reproduction stimulus equals to that of the standard. Two light patches used for reproduction of the spatial distance are presented one second after the standard stimulus disappeared. Subjects are requested to adjust the reproduction stimulus to the spatial distance of the stimulus.The subjective velocity is measured by adjusting the reproduction stimulus to the phenomenal velocity of the standard (see Fig. 1 and 2).Results are as follows:1. There is a tendency especially for male subjects to underestimate the constant physical time (2 sec), as velocity and spatial distance become larger (see Fig. 3 and Table 5).2. Female subjects in E2 group overestimate the constant spatial distance (8cm), as exposure time becomes shorter and velocity becomes larger, but female subjects in U group show different tendency (see Fig. 4 and Table 6).3. All groups underestimate the constant physical velocity (4cm/sec) as time and spatial distance become larger (see Fig. 5 and Table 7).4. Most of the subjects who show such relations as tau- and kappa-effect between time and space estimation belong to U group. But inverse relation is rather strong in E2 group.