Researchers at the University of Münster have made a groundbreaking discovery, challenging long-held assumptions about how our brains process visual information. The study, published in Science Advances, reveals that our visual system’s compensation mechanism for rapid eye movements can fail when encountering certain non-rigid motion stimuli, such as fire or water.
Key Findings
- Visual stability fails with non-rigid motion: The study shows that smooth eye movements cannot track all types of visual motion.
- Separation of rapid and smooth eye movements: The two systems respond to different motion signals and run along distinct neuronal pathways.
- Compensation mechanism override: Rapid eye movements disrupt visual stability when viewing non-rigid motions.
The Study
Fifteen participants tracked a simulated rotating vortex with their eyes while their eye movements were measured using high-speed infrared cameras. The results revealed:
- Disrupted spatial perception: The vortex appeared to jump forward due to rapid eye movements.
- Failed compensation mechanism: The usual mechanism for stabilizing rapid eye movements failed.
Implications
- Cognitive and brain research: The findings offer new insights into visual processing and perception.
- Neurodegenerative disease research: The study’s results may aid in diagnosing and understanding diseases affecting visual processing.
- New stimulus concept: The discovery provides a novel tool for investigating visual perception.
Reference
Koerfer, K., Watson, T., & Lappe, M. (2024). Inability to pursue nonrigid motion produces instability of spatial perception. Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp6204
