Expanding and Contracting Optic-Flow Patterns and Vection

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  • Andrea Bubka
    Department of Psychology, Saint Peter's College, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306, USA
  • Frederick Bonato
    Department of Psychology, Saint Peter's College, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306, USA
  • Stephen Palmisano
    School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong 2522, NSW, Australia

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<jats:p> When stationary observers view an optic-flow pattern, visually induced self-motion perception (vection) and a form of motion sickness known as simulator sickness (SS), can result. Previous results suggest that an expanding flow pattern leads to more SS than a contracting pattern. Sensory conflict, a possible cause of SS, may be more salient when an expanding optic-flow pattern is viewed. An experiment was conducted to test if a more salient sensory conflict accompanying expanding flow patterns might inhibit vection. Participants ( n = 15) viewed a pattern of blue squares, either steadily expanded or contracted, on a large rear-projection screen. Vection onset and magnitude were measured for 30 s with a computer-interfaced slide device. Vection onset was significantly faster, and vection magnitude stronger, when a contracting pattern was viewed. We propose that our extensive experience with forward self-motion may form a neural expectancy (exposure-history) about the sensory inputs which typically accompany expanding flow. However, since backward self-motion is less common, there may be a weaker exposure-history for contracting flow, and as a result these patterns generate less salient sensory conflict and subsequently less vection. </jats:p>

Journal

  • Perception

    Perception 37 (5), 704-711, 2008-01-01

    SAGE Publications

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