Motion interference: perturbing perceived direction
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2026

Controlled Rotation of Human Observers in a Virtual Reality Environment
Published on: April 21, 2022
L Welch1, D I Macleod, S P Mckee
1Depatment of Psychology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Leslie_Welch@brown.edu
Abstract:
The minimum stimulus necessary to define motion is a change in position from one location to another in time, but past studies have provided evidence that the human motion system integrates motion over more than two positions. In this study we demonstrate strong sequential interactions affecting perceived direction in apparent-motion sequences; a perturbing dot can bias the perceived direction of motion between two test dots to which it is relatively close in space (up to 100 min arc) and time (up to 300 msec). These sequential interactions suggest a motion mechanism sensitive to the spatial characteristics of motion trajectories; the interactions are greatest for evenly spaced targets positioned along a single axis. The implications for motion-detection models and models based on attention as a mechanism to create apparent motion are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Interference: Path Lengths
Two special sources may be considered when they are in phase. This can be easily achieved by feeding the two sources from the same source. An example would be synchronizing the two speakers by feeding them with the same source, such as the sound waves produced by a tuning fork. This setup ensures that the two sources have the same frequency and are...
Vectors in 2D: Problem Solving
Sound Waves: Interference
Lenz's Law
If a bar magnet is moved toward a coil such that the magnetic flux through the coil...
Interference and Superposition of Waves
Interference occurs in mechanical waves, such as sound waves, waves on a string, and surface water waves. Mechanical waves correspond to the physical displacement of particles. Hence,...
Equilibrium and Balance

