Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.

Body movement influences the structure of multiple forms of ambient energy, including optics and gravito-inertial force. Some researchers have argued that egocentric distance is derived from inferential integration of visual and non-visual stimulation. We suggest that accurate information about egoc...

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Main Authors: Bruno Mantel, Thomas A Stoffregen, Alain Campbell, Benoît G Bardy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4391914?pdf=render
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author Bruno Mantel
Thomas A Stoffregen
Alain Campbell
Benoît G Bardy
author_facet Bruno Mantel
Thomas A Stoffregen
Alain Campbell
Benoît G Bardy
author_sort Bruno Mantel
collection DOAJ
description Body movement influences the structure of multiple forms of ambient energy, including optics and gravito-inertial force. Some researchers have argued that egocentric distance is derived from inferential integration of visual and non-visual stimulation. We suggest that accurate information about egocentric distance exists in perceptual stimulation as higher-order patterns that extend across optics and inertia. We formalize a pattern that specifies the egocentric distance of a stationary object across higher-order relations between optics and inertia. This higher-order parameter is created by self-generated movement of the perceiver in inertial space relative to the illuminated environment. For this reason, we placed minimal restrictions on the exploratory movements of our participants. We asked whether humans can detect and use the information available in this higher-order pattern. Participants judged whether a virtual object was within reach. We manipulated relations between body movement and the ambient structure of optics and inertia. Judgments were precise and accurate when the higher-order optical-inertial parameter was available. When only optic flow was available, judgments were poor. Our results reveal that participants perceived egocentric distance from the higher-order, optical-inertial consequences of their own exploratory activity. Analysis of participants' movement trajectories revealed that self-selected movements were complex, and tended to optimize availability of the optical-inertial pattern that specifies egocentric distance. We argue that accurate information about egocentric distance exists in higher-order patterns of ambient energy, that self-generated movement can generate these higher-order patterns, and that these patterns can be detected and used to support perception of egocentric distance that is precise and accurate.
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spelling doaj.art-233207907fa145e39433b869635478542022-12-22T00:49:25ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01104e012002510.1371/journal.pone.0120025Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.Bruno MantelThomas A StoffregenAlain CampbellBenoît G BardyBody movement influences the structure of multiple forms of ambient energy, including optics and gravito-inertial force. Some researchers have argued that egocentric distance is derived from inferential integration of visual and non-visual stimulation. We suggest that accurate information about egocentric distance exists in perceptual stimulation as higher-order patterns that extend across optics and inertia. We formalize a pattern that specifies the egocentric distance of a stationary object across higher-order relations between optics and inertia. This higher-order parameter is created by self-generated movement of the perceiver in inertial space relative to the illuminated environment. For this reason, we placed minimal restrictions on the exploratory movements of our participants. We asked whether humans can detect and use the information available in this higher-order pattern. Participants judged whether a virtual object was within reach. We manipulated relations between body movement and the ambient structure of optics and inertia. Judgments were precise and accurate when the higher-order optical-inertial parameter was available. When only optic flow was available, judgments were poor. Our results reveal that participants perceived egocentric distance from the higher-order, optical-inertial consequences of their own exploratory activity. Analysis of participants' movement trajectories revealed that self-selected movements were complex, and tended to optimize availability of the optical-inertial pattern that specifies egocentric distance. We argue that accurate information about egocentric distance exists in higher-order patterns of ambient energy, that self-generated movement can generate these higher-order patterns, and that these patterns can be detected and used to support perception of egocentric distance that is precise and accurate.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4391914?pdf=render
spellingShingle Bruno Mantel
Thomas A Stoffregen
Alain Campbell
Benoît G Bardy
Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
PLoS ONE
title Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
title_full Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
title_fullStr Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
title_full_unstemmed Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
title_short Exploratory movement generates higher-order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance.
title_sort exploratory movement generates higher order information that is sufficient for accurate perception of scaled egocentric distance
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4391914?pdf=render
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AT alaincampbell exploratorymovementgenerateshigherorderinformationthatissufficientforaccurateperceptionofscaledegocentricdistance
AT benoitgbardy exploratorymovementgenerateshigherorderinformationthatissufficientforaccurateperceptionofscaledegocentricdistance