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Retinal flow is sufficient for steering during observer rotationHow do people control locomotion while their eyes are simultaneously rotating? A previous study found that during simulated rotation, they can perceive a straight path of self-motion from the retinal flow pattern, despite conflicting extraretinal information, on the basis of dense motion parallax and reference objects. Here we report that the same information is sufficient for active control ofjoystick steering. Participants steered toward a target in displays that simulated a pursuit eye movement. Steering was highly inaccurate with a textured ground plane (motion parallax alone), but quite accurate when an array of posts was added (motion parallax plus reference objects). This result is consistent with the theory that instantaneous heading is determined from motion parallax, and the path of self-motion is determined by updating heading relative to environmental objects. Retinal flow is thus sufficient for both perceiving self-motion and controlling self-motion with a joystick; extraretinal and positional information can also contribute, but are not necessary.
Document ID
20040088137
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Li, Li
(Brown University Providence, RI 02912, United States)
Warren, William H Jr
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society / APS
Volume: 13
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0956-7976
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: K02 MH01353
CONTRACT_GRANT: EY10923
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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