Cite as:
Nefs H T, Harris J M, 2006, "Induced motion-in-depth depends on eye movements" Perception 35 ECVP Abstract Supplement

Induced motion-in-depth depends on eye movements

H T Nefs, J M Harris

Illusory, induced, motion-in-depth is perceived in a physically stationary target when other targets move in depth in its vicinity (eg German and Harris, 2001 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 42 S617). The conventional hypothesis that changes in relative disparity and size are the dominant cues for perception of motion-in-depth predicts this effect. It also predicts that vergence movements are irrelevant. In order to test the latter hypothesis, we measured the point of subjective stationarity in a 2AFC task. Observers viewed an inducer target that oscillated in depth and a test target located directly above it. The test target moved in-phase or out-of-phase with the inducer, but with a smaller amplitude. Observers had to indicate the phase between target and inducer. They were asked to keep their eyes either on the test target or on the inducer. Eye movements were recorded throughout the experiment for both eyes. When the eyes were kept on the test target, stationarity occurred at about 10% of the inducer amplitude. When the eyes followed the inducer the bias increased five-fold to 40 - 55%. This is the first time that eye movements have been shown to have an effect on any type of induced motion-in-depth.
[Supported by the EPSRC and the University of St Andrews.]

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