Cite as:
Morvan C, Wexler M, 2003, "The detection of motion in any reference frame" Perception 32 ECVP Abstract Supplement

The detection of motion in any reference frame

C Morvan, M Wexler

It is important to be able to detect objects that move with respect to oneself as well as those that move in an Earth-fixed, allocentric reference frame. It is known that moving objects are detected more efficiently than stationary ones (Ivry and Cohen, 1992 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 18 1045 - 1057), but since experiments were conducted on immobile observers, it is not known whether it is egocentric or allocentric motion that is detected. We dissociated the two types of reference frame by working with observers that move the head and/or the eyes, and studying the detection of objects whose motion is yoked to that of the observer. Thus, we were able to create motion selectively in any given reference frame. We have found that motion that is solely allocentric (no retinal slip or motion with respect to the head) is detected as efficiently as motion on the retina.

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