Relative Efficiency for the Detection of Apparent Motion **We are indebted to an anonymous referee for suggesting this possibility and the test to exclude it.

Abstract

We measured the relative efficiency for motion and position discriminations of brief, localized spot stimuli with a technique that makes no assumptions about sites of noise or information loss in the visual system. In one task, the observer had to discriminate whether an increment was located at one (left) or another (right) closely spaced spots. In the other task, the observer had to discriminate two successive brief increments of the left spot from a left spot increment followed by a right spot increment. Ideal observer theory predicts identical performance on the two tasks. Observers' thresholds, however, were significantly lower in the motion task at all intervals between flashes (ISIs) less than 60 msec in one observer and all ISIs less than 150 msec in two other observers (P < 0.01, t-test). We conclude that this apparent motion stimulus is seen more efficiently than a non-moving stimulus, and that the higher efficiency may be due to use of a motion sensitive channel in addition to independent position sensitive channels.

Role of Expectancy, Motion and Overhead Lighting on Nighttime Visibility

“…Moving objects resulted in longer detection distances compared to static objects which is in agreement with current literature (Abrams & Christ, 2003;Bhagavathula, et al, 2012;S. Franconeri & Simons, 2003;Gros, et al, 1996). From the results of this study motion seems to draw more attention than expectancy when it comes to detecting new objects at nighttime on roadways.…”

“…Research has shown that motion is a predictor in detecting new objects, irrespective of their luminance. Moving objects were said to be detected more efficiently than static objects (Gros, Pope, & Cohn, 1996). Studies have also indicated that only objects that create some sort of motion or luminance based transient effect can be detected by observers easily (Abrams & Christ, 2003;Enns, Austen, Di Lollo, Rauschenberger, & Yantis, 2001;S.…”

Visual Warning Signals Optimized for Human Perception: What the Eye Sees Fastest

“…We have directed our attention at a class of visual stimuli that others have found the eye to be most sensitive to. Previous research has demonstrated that stimuli that move or that appear to move have lower detection thresholds, and thus are seen more easily (Gros et al 1996;Watson et al 1983). Our present experiments demonstrate that moving stimuli also produce faster reaction times than stationary targets.…”