Rotary acceleration of a subject inhibits choice reaction time to motion in peripheral vision.

Abstract

The effect of 6"s rotary acceleration upon choice reaction time (RT) to an accelerating target in peripheral vision was the central issue in the experiment, with the level of acceleration and the viewing angle of the visual target as variables Twelve pilots were tested in a rotation device under conditions of visual stimulation alone and visual-plus-rotary stimulation The pilots responded to the direction of the visual motion by moving a hand controller to the right or left Visual-plus-rotary stimulation produced longer choice RTs than the visual stimulation alone Choice RT was inversely related to the level of acceleration and directly proportional to the viewing angle The findings are discussed in connection with theories of double stimulation and mtersensory effects

Choice reaction time to movement of eccentric visual targets during concurrent rotary acceleration

“…In accordance with earlier studies (Borkenhagen, 1974;Clark & Stewart, 1974a, 1974b shows that choice RT increased with an increase in rotation at 0-and 20-deg (349-mrad) eccentricities, and RT decreased with an increase in rotation at 40-deg (698-mrad) and 6O-deg (1,047-mrad) angles. In the interaction between direction of dot movement, eccentricity, and level of rotary acceleration [F(6,60) == 3.51, p < .01], RT to horizontal dot movement showed greater effects due to rotation at 0-and 6O-deg (I,047-mrad) eccentricities than at the intermediate eccentricities.…”

“…This significant main effect for eccentricity of the dot was expected [F(3,1O) = 159.06, P < .001]. These results confirm earlier experimental results (Borkenhagen, 1974;Sekuler,1975). ... …”

“…The effect of peripheral viewing is thus diminished at higher levels of acceleration. This is especially apparent at the greatest eccentricities and is in accord with Borkenhagen's (1974) ""…”

“…Shorter RTs with increasing levels of acceleration are found consistently (Borkenhagen, 1974;Clark & Stewart, 1974a, 1974bMattson, 1975). There is a direct relationship between visual eccentricity and RT (Borkenhagen, 1974); and the threshold for movement is also directly related to eccentricity (McColgin, 1960;Sekuler, 1975). Results concerning the ability to perceive different directions of movement have been contradictory.…”

“…Sudden turning movements of the head cause reflex vestibular driving of the eyes which impedes visual perception of objects that are stationary relative to the observer (Guedry, 1968). Furthermore, studies concerned with double stimulation of these particular sensory systems have shown an increase in reaction time (RT) to an accelerating cursor during simultaneous rotary acceleration (Borkenhagen, 1974;Clark & Stewart, 1974a, 1974bMattson, 1975). In each of these studies, the cursor used was a line moving perpendicular to its orientation.…”