A simple proximity heuristic allows tracking of multiple objects through occlusion

Abstract

Moving objects in the world present a challenge to the visual system, in that they often move in and out of view as they are occluded by other surfaces. Nevertheless, the ability to track multiple objects through periods of occlusion is surprisingly robust. Here, we identify a simple heuristic that underlies this ability: Pre-and postocclusion views of objects are linked together solely by their spatial proximity. Tracking through occlusion was always improved when the postocclusion instances reappeared closer to the preocclusion views. Strikingly, this was true even when objects' previous trajectories predicted different reappearance locations and when objects reappeared "too close," from invisible "slits" in empty space, rather than from more distant occluder contours. Tracking through occlusion appears to rely only on spatial proximity, and not on encoding heading information, likely reappearance locations, or the visible structure of occluders.

Audio-visual synchrony and feature-selective attention co-amplify early visual processing

“…The motion of the train will lead to intermittent occlusions of the cars. Despite the spatial superposition, the visual system is able to interpolate occluded parts of the cars based on their trajectory and thus retains a sense of cars and trees being separate visual objects (Yi et al 2008;Franconeri et al 2012;Atmaca et al 2013). In our example, the moving cars correspond to the pulsing stimuli and the trees that constitute one visual object (Müller 2014, p. 132).…”

Constraints on Multiple Object Tracking in Williams Syndrome: How Atypical Development Can Inform Theories of Visual Processing

“…Clearly, however, TD adults did not completely fail in this condition. It is likely that they used strategic "best guesses" about where the targets may appear next, based on predictions of proximity and trajectory (Fencsik et al, 2007;Franconeri, Pylyshyn, & Scholl, 2012;Horowitz, Birnkrant, Fencsik, Tran, & Wolfe, 2006;Howe & Holcombe, 2012;Keane & Pylyshyn, 2006). The performance of TD adults was compromised in the implosion condition, but their capacity (k values) did increase CONSTRAINTS ON MOT IN ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT with the number of targets, indicating that they were reasonably successful in predicting the future locations of the imploding objects (but notably still at rates significantly lower than in the moving and occluded conditions).…”

The Not-so-Staggering Effect of Staggered Animated Transitions on Visual Tracking

“…Object speed only appears to impair performance at extremes -the types of speeds that strain the refresh rate of typical monitors [19]. Trajectory changes and curved paths appear to have only minimal impacts on performance [23]. Extreme magnification changes of the display do not have a substantial impact [22].…”

“…• Most animated transitions are short (the generally recommended duration is 1s [15,24]), instead of animations lasting e.g., 8s [23]). …”