The pattern specificity of velocity aftereffects

Interactions between two different visual patterns, a coarse grating and a fine texture pattern, were investigated in the context of velocity aftereffects in human subjects. The perceived velocity shift, in which the perceived velocity of a moving test pattern is reduced following exposure to a similarly moving adaptation pattern, is apparent when the adaptation and test patterns are of the same or different types. The aftereffect transfers interocularly in both cases. The directional tuning of the aftereffect is broad, and has a different profile for texture adaptation than for bar adaptation. When adaptation is to a composite stimulus comprising independently moving bars and texture, the aftereffect varies according to the nature of the test pattern. The results are discussed with reference to interactions between the responses of neurones in feline striate cortex to the two types of pattern.