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Measuring visual discomfort - a novel two-step method for reducing criterion effects when measuring subjective
Alasdair D F Clarke1, Louise O'Hare2, Paul B Hibbard3
1University of Essex, United Kingdom.
Vision Research
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Measuring visual discomfort is challenging. A new intuitive method effectively scales subjective discomfort, reducing individual biases and yielding reliable data in both lab and real-world settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Vision Science
- Human Factors
Background:
- Visual discomfort is a subjective experience, posing measurement challenges due to individual variability and the need for efficient data collection.
- Existing methods struggle with calibrating subjective judgments across participants and in ecologically valid environments.
- Understanding factors contributing to visual discomfort is crucial for improving visual experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce an intuitive participant-driven method for measuring visual discomfort, minimizing criterion effects and maximizing data efficiency.
- To investigate the influence of cortical hyperexcitability (spatial frequency) and ambiguous motion signals (phase modulation) on visual discomfort.
- To validate the proposed measurement method in both controlled laboratory and real-world settings.
Main Methods:
- Developed an intuitive binary estimation method to scale subjective magnitude estimations of visual discomfort.
- Applied Bayesian statistical methods to analyze discomfort judgments.
- Collected data from 34 observers in controlled lab environments and 47 observers in real-world settings.
Main Results:
- The proposed intuitive method successfully reduced criterion effects and captured subjective discomfort magnitudes.
- Both spatial frequency (cortical hyperexcitability) and phase modulation wavelength (ambiguous motion) significantly influenced visual discomfort judgments.
- The findings were consistent across both controlled and real-world experimental conditions.
Conclusions:
- The novel intuitive method provides a robust and efficient way to measure visual discomfort, adaptable to various settings.
- Cortical hyperexcitability and ambiguous motion are key factors contributing to visual discomfort.
- This approach enhances the ecological validity of visual discomfort research and has implications for understanding individual differences.
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