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Form and motion have independent access to consciousness

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 405–406 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

In our conscious perception of the world, form and movement are usually inextricably linked: component contours that bound and fill a moving object seem to share a single trajectory of motion. However, the apparent unity of consciousness for shape and movement is illusory. In some instances, literally invisible contours contribute to the perceived direction of motion, implying that shape and movement have independent access to our awareness of the visual scene.

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Figure 1: Direction of pattern motion.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Denis Schluppeck for help with these experiments. T.J.A. is a McDonnell-Pew Research Fellow, and the work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council and the US Air Force.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Laboratory of Physiology, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK

    Timothy J. Andrews & Colin Blakemore

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  1. Timothy J. Andrews
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  2. Colin Blakemore
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Correspondence to Timothy J. Andrews.

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Andrews, T., Blakemore, C. Form and motion have independent access to consciousness. Nat Neurosci 2, 405–406 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/8068

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