Motion detection and the coincidence of structure at high and low spatial frequencies

We used filtered random dot kinematograms and natural images to examine how motion detection depends the relative locations of structures defined at low and high spatial frequencies. The upper displacement limit of motion (D(max)), the lower displacement limit (D(min)) and motion coherence thresholds were unaffected by the degree of spatial coincidence between high and low spatial frequency structures i.e. whether they were consistent or inconsistent with a single feature. However motion detection was possible between band-pass filtered random dot patterns whose peak frequencies were separated by up to 4 octaves. The first result implicates spatial frequency selective motion detectors that operate independently. The second result implicates a motion system that can integrate the displacements of edges defined by widely separated spatial frequencies. Both are required to account for the two results, and they appear to operate under very similar conditions.