Perception of motion in equiluminous kinematograms

Abstract

Two fields of random dots that were identical except for a slight shift in a central square region were presented in rapid alternation. This produced a vivid impression of a square moving back and forth above the background. When the kinematogram is presented in equiluminous red/green, the motion of the central region can still be seen, although over a narrower range of alternation rates, interstimulus intervals, and displacements than for black/white presentation. The perception of motion for equiluminous stimuli indicates that colour and motion can be analyzed conjointly by the visual system. However, as originally reported by Ramachandran and Gregory, the segregation of the oscillating central square from the background is lost at equiluminance. This segregation process therefore appears to be colour-blind.