Binocular contributions to linear vertical vection

Abstract

Compelling illusions of self-motion, known as vection, can be produced in a stationary observer by visual stimulation alone. The role of binocular vision and stereopsis in these illusions was explored in a series of three experiments. Previous research had provided evidence of stereoscopic enhancements for linear vection in depth (e.g., Palmisano, 1996, 2002). Here we examined for the first time the effects of binocular vision and stereopsis on linear vertical vection. Vertical vection was induced by the upward or downward translation of large stereoscopic surfaces. These surfaces were horizontally oriented depth corrugations produced by disparity modulation of patterns of persistent or short lifetime dot elements. We found that binocular viewing of such surfaces significantly increased the magnitudes and decreased the onset delays of vertical vection. Experiments utilizing short lifetime dot stereograms demonstrated that these particular binocular enhancements of vection were due to the motion of stereoscopically defined features.

Stereoscopic advantages for vection induced by radial, circular, and spiral optic flows

“…In principle, there are multiple ways this binocular motion stimulation might contribute to, and even enhance, the visual perception of selfmotion (i.e., compared to monocular motion stimulation). For a comprehensive review of these possible binocular contributions, please see Allison, Ash, and Palmisano (2014). For example, binocular vision increases the observer's field of view (compared to monocular vision) and also provides opportunities for Citation: Palmisano, S., Summersby, S., Davies, R. G., & Kim, J.…”

Vection strength increases with simulated eye-separation

“…However the somewhat different effects that simulated eye-separation had on these two vection measures suggests that they might have been tapping into different aspects of the overall experience. If the larger stereoscopic advantage found for vection strength ratings in the 13-cm condition was due primarily to the increase in perceived vection speed (as suggested above), then that might explain why this finding was not also accompanied by 8 Past studies have also shown that the motion of stereoscopically-defined 3-D features can improve other types of vection (i.e., vertical translation and roll vectionsee Allison et al, 2014;Palmisano et al, 2016a). This extra motion appears to both supplement and reinforce the monocular self-motion information.…”

“…Recent evidence suggests that dynamic stereoscopic information is capable of enhancing the vection induced by all types of optic flow signalling self-motion (Palmisano et al, 2016a). Stereoscopic advantages for vection have now been reported for optic flow displays simulating self-motion in depth (Palmisano, 1996(Palmisano, , 2002Palmisano et al, 2016a;Seya & Shinoda, 2018), vertical self-translation (Allison et al, 2014), self-rotation (Lowther & Ware, 1996;Palmisano et al, 2016a), and various combinations of self-translation and self-rotation (Palmisano et al, 2016a). In the past it was assumed that binocular information had to be consistent with monocular self-motion information in order to generate such stereoscopic advantages for vection (see Palmisano, 1996Palmisano, , 2002Palmisano et al, 2016a).…”

“…While their work has confirmed the importance of monocular motion signals for visual selfmotion perception (as well as for recovering 3-D scene layout e.g., Andersen & Braunstein, 1985;Braunstein & Andersen, 1981;Gibson, 1950;Gibson et al, 1955), visually induced illusions of self-motion can still be enhanced by providing extra, purely binocular information (e.g., Wolfe & Held, 1980;Palmisano, 1996;Lowther & Ware, 1996). Research now shows that stereoscopic patterns of optic flow induce more compelling vection than comparable non-stereoscopic patterns of optic flow (see Allison, Ash, & Palmisano, 2014;Lowther & Ware, 1996;Palmisano, 1996Palmisano, , 2002Palmisano et al, 2016a;Seya & Shinoda, 2018). This study further investigates the nature of these stereoscopic contributions to visual self-motion perception.…”

“…Instead of preventing vection, conflicting stereoscopic information has sometimes even been shown to improve vection. For example, Allison et al (2014) found that stereoscopically-defined moving features improved vertical vection, even though the binocular and monocular information in their displays indicated self-motion relative to a 3-D corrugated surface and a flat frontal plane surface, respectively.…”