Abstract

A yellow square was displayed on an equiluminous grey background. When a set of black spots was superimposed on the square and moved horizontally, the yellow square appeared to move in the same direction as the spots, an effect we call motion capture.¹ We now report several new experiments: (a) An achromatic low contrast square was also captured although less vividly than chromatic borders. (b) TV snow was superimposed on the yellow square. If a small oscillating spot was tracked in the vicinity of the square, the square appeared to move along with the eyes, perhaps due to misapplied reafferance signals. Even if the tracking was stopped the square sometimes continued to oscillate for a few cycles. (c) Stereoscopic movement of spots in the Z-axis caused the square to be captured in the Z-axis as well. (d) If the spots moved continuously as in a conveyor belt, the square appeared to move but not change location. If a whole row of appropriately spaced squares was used, the row appeared to move continuously.

© 1991 Optical Society of America