Different parameters control motion perception above and below a critical density

The maximum displacement for the detection of apparent motion (Dmax) is measured using stimuli made up of Gabor function micro-patterns randomly distributed across the stimulus field. Previous studies using high densities of micro-patterns have demonstrated Dmax to be dependent on the spatial frequency content of the stimulus and not the size of the stimulus elements. Here we report that Dmax increases suddenly when the number of micro-patterns in the visual field is reduced beyond some critical point. The number of micro-patterns at which the transition in Dmax occurs is found to be inversely proportional to the width of the micro-patterns along the axis of motion. Beyond this transition, for low density stimuli, Dmax is found to be dependent on both the number and size of micro-patterns in the stimulus field. These results are suggestive of the operation of different motion mechanisms under conditions of low vs high micro-pattern density.