Elsevier

Vision Research

Volume 32, Issue 8, August 1992, Pages 1535-1549
Vision Research

Human speed perception is contrast dependent

https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6989(92)90209-2Get rights and content

Abstract

When two parallel gratings moving at the same speed are presented simultaneously, the lower-contrast grating appears slower. This misperception is evident across a wide range of contrasts (2.5ā€“50%) and does not appear to saturate (e.g. a 50% contrast grating appears slower than a 70% contrast grating moving at the same speed). On average, a 70% contrast grating must be slowed by 35% to match a 10% contrast grating moving at 2Ā°/sec (N = 6). Furthermore, the effect is largely independent of the absolute contrast level and is a quasilinear function of log contrast ratio. A preliminary parametric study shows that, although spatial frequency has little effect, relative orientation is important. Finally, the misperception of relative speed appears lessened when the stimuli to be matched are presented sequentially.

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