Induced Motion as a Function of the Speed of the Inducing Object, Measured by Means of Two Methods

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Abstract
Induced motion is illustrated by the apparent motion imparted to a stationary disc by the horizontal motion of an enclosing frame. The present study examined the effect of frame speed, with a constant extent of frame motion, on the magnitude of induced motion for average frame speeds varying from 0·17 to 2·85 deg s−1. The induced motion was measured by two methods. (i) The observer adjusted the horizontal distance between comparison posts to indicate the extent of the horizontal induced motion in a physically stationary disc. (ii) The observer adjusted the slant of a comparison rod to indicate the apparent path of motion of the disc physically moving straight up and down in phase with the horizontal motion of the surrounding frame. The latter method requires the observer to integrate two apparent components of motion of the disc, one from its physical vertical motion and the other from its induced horizontal motion. The results from both methods show that substantial amounts of induction occurred at all of the frame speeds. The vector addition of apparent motions from real and from induced motion obtained from the second method, and the substantial amounts of induction found with the high frame speeds are interpreted to indicate that the processes underlying the perception of real and induced motion are essentially the same.