Motion capture of luminance stimuli by equiluminous color gratings and by attentive tracking

Vision Res. 1994 Oct;34(20):2701-6. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(94)90226-7.

Abstract

Two experiments demonstrated motion capture of luminance-defined dots by gratings with no net luminance-based motion. In a series of two-frame experimental trials, we superimposed bright dots and a color grating rotating in opposite directions. Capture was observed at equiluminance and was facilitated by the presence of color in gratings over a range of luminance contrasts. In a second experiment, observers noted that when a counterphase grating was tracked in either direction with attention, the superimposed dots were captured in that direction. These results suggest motion capture is supported not only by luminance-based motion, but also by color- and attention-based motion. Indeed, we suggest that the most parsimonious explanation is that all capture is mediated by attention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attention
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Fixation, Ocular
  • Humans
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Optical Illusions / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Psychometrics
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology