The perceptual support of goal-directed displacement is context-dependent

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 376; no. 2; pp. 121 - 126
• Main Authors: Bastin, Julien, Montagne, Gilles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 11.03.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bearing angle; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biological and medical sciences; Egocentric direction; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Goal-directed displacement; Goals; Humans; Life Sciences; Motion Perception; Motion Perception - physiology; Optic flow; Perceptual variables; Photic Stimulation; Proprioception; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vision; Visual control; Visual Perception; Visual Perception - physiology; Egocentric direction; Goal-directed displacement; Optic flow; Bearing angle; Proprioception; Vision; Perceptual variables; Visual control
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.11.040

This study investigates the perceptual-motor organisation underlying the control of goal-directed displacement. We used a virtual reality set-up to study the locomotor interception of a moving ball. Subjects had to intercept moving balls by modifying displacement velocity if necessary, while the ball's place of arrival and the environment were manipulated. The results showed that subjects simultaneously managed multiple sources of information and placed priority on the most salient variables, depending on the task and environmental constraints.