Object-motion sensitivity loss due to motion in the peripheral visual field

Abstract

The effect of peripheral-field movement on detection of object motion was investigated in two experiments. In each experiment, 24 subjects judged the movement of targets while elements in the subject’s peripheral visual field were moving and while they were stationary. Targets were stationary or were moving at speeds between 6.2 and 23.1 minutes of visual arc per second. Target locations were to the left or right of (Experiment 1), or above or below (Experiment 2), a central fixation stimulus. Peripheral-field condition, direction of target movement, and speed of target movement significantly affected motion detection. The interaction between direction of target movement and speed of target movement was found to be significant in the analyses of both experiments. Target location was found to be a significant factor in Experiment 2, and sensitivity differences were found between horizontal and vertical target movement. The decrease in sensitivity due to peripheral-field motion did not depend upon subjects’ experiencing vection.