Interaction between peripheral optical flow and foveal depth perception

Using an immersive VR system (the “CAVE”), we investigated the sensitivity and threshold of depth order judgment in the central visual field by subjects placed in a visual environment that simulated optical flow, producing vection in a wide-area visual field (front, floor, and both sides) associated with forward movement inside an endless toroidal tunnel. Experiments showed that when an optical flow is produced in the wide-area visual field, the sensitivity and threshold of depth judgment exhibit a systematic change that depends on the direction of rotation. Possible explanations of this result are the use of an implicit reference plane by the subject, and change of body sensation in response to the peripheral visual field information. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 35(8): 107–116, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (). DOI 10.1002sscj.20021

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