Dynamic, state-dependent thresholds for the perception of single-element apparent motion: bistability from local...

Area of Science:

• Visual perception
• Neuroscience
• Computational modeling

Background:

• Coherent motion perception in multi-element displays relies on global cooperative interactions.
• These interactions modulate directional motion detection.
• Local cooperative influences may also affect single-element motion perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cooperative influences on single-element apparent motion perception.
• To examine the role of local ensembles of motion detectors.
• To determine if motion perception is bistable near the detection threshold.

Main Methods:

• Measured luminance contrast thresholds for a generalized single-element apparent-motion stimulus.
• Analyzed evidence for spontaneous switching and hysteresis effects.
• Assessed the distinctness of perceived motion versus non-motion states.

Main Results:

• Apparent motion perception is influenced by cooperative interactions within local detector ensembles.
• Motion perception near the 50% threshold was found to be bistable.
• Thresholds depended on the preceding state of the motion detector ensemble.

Conclusions:

• Single-element apparent motion perception is modulated by the prior state of motion detector ensembles.
• Recurrent cooperative interactions within interconnected ensembles likely influence detector activation.
• These findings highlight the distributed and interactive nature of motion processing in the visual system.