Size-induced distortions in perceptual maps of visual space

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McGraw, Paul V., Roach, Neil W., Badcock, David R. and Whitaker, David (2012) Size-induced distortions in perceptual maps of visual space. Journal of Vision, 12 (4). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1534-7362

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Abstract

In order to interact with our environment, the human brain constructs maps of visual space. The orderly mapping of external space across the retinal surface, termed retinotopy, is maintained at subsequent levels of visual cortical processing and underpins our capacity to make precise and reliable judgments about the relative location of objects around us. While these maps, at least in the visual system, support high precision judgments about the relative location of objects, they are prone to significant perceptual distortion. Here, we ask observers to estimate the separation of two visual stimuliVa spatial interval

discrimination task. We show that large stimulus sizes require much greater separation in order to be perceived as having the same separation as small stimulus sizes. The relationship is linear, task independent, and unrelated to the perceived position of object edges. We also show that this type of spatial distortion is not restricted to the object itself but can also be revealed by changing the spatial scale of the background, while object size remains constant. These results indicate that fundamental spatial properties, such as retinal image size or the scale at which an object is analyzed, exert a marked influence on spatial coding.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1008933
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Psychology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1167/12.4.8
Depositing User: Davies, Mrs Sarah
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2014 11:15
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 20:22
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/2315

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