A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion

Methodologies to measure motion perception are vital for deepening our understanding of the vision system and the factors that influence it. While existing work has primarily focused on the fastest perceivable velocities, less attention has been paid to the lower threshold of motion (LTM; slowest pe...

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Main Authors: Jacob B. Harth, Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond, Cameron J. Wysocky, Spencer F. Smith, Billy R. Hammond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Inventions
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/3/33
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author Jacob B. Harth
Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond
Cameron J. Wysocky
Spencer F. Smith
Billy R. Hammond
author_facet Jacob B. Harth
Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond
Cameron J. Wysocky
Spencer F. Smith
Billy R. Hammond
author_sort Jacob B. Harth
collection DOAJ
description Methodologies to measure motion perception are vital for deepening our understanding of the vision system and the factors that influence it. While existing work has primarily focused on the fastest perceivable velocities, less attention has been paid to the lower threshold of motion (LTM; slowest perceivable velocities). In this study, we designed an optical system to measure LTM in a sample of healthy young adults and to assess the influence of retinal location (central vs. peripheral retina) and stimulus composition (broadband vs. mid-wave) on LTM. The system was based on a xenon light source and a fiber-optic cable that created a bright light stimulus that could be moved along a computer-controlled precision translation slide. The stimulus, exposed for one-second intervals at both a central (fovea) and a peripheral (33 deg) location, was moved at varying speeds to determine the slowest detectable speed. In all, 37 healthy young participants (M = 19.32 ± 1.97 years) were tested. We found substantial between-subject variability in LTM and an interaction between stimulus wavelength and retinal location. The measurement of LTM using this novel apparatus and methodology provides insights into the relationship between slow-moving, ecologically valid stimuli and perceptual detection at the slowest speeds.
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spelling doaj-art-8b902c5945ea4a019b8de2dfe61f4bcc2025-08-20T03:27:29ZengMDPI AGInventions2411-51342025-04-011033310.3390/inventions10030033A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of MotionJacob B. Harth0Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond1Cameron J. Wysocky2Spencer F. Smith3Billy R. Hammond4Institute of Gerontology, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 102 Spear Road, Athens, GA 30602, USAInstitute of Gerontology, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 102 Spear Road, Athens, GA 30602, USAVision Sciences Laboratory, Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin Street, Athens, GA 30602, USAInstitute of Gerontology, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 102 Spear Road, Athens, GA 30602, USAVision Sciences Laboratory, Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin Street, Athens, GA 30602, USAMethodologies to measure motion perception are vital for deepening our understanding of the vision system and the factors that influence it. While existing work has primarily focused on the fastest perceivable velocities, less attention has been paid to the lower threshold of motion (LTM; slowest perceivable velocities). In this study, we designed an optical system to measure LTM in a sample of healthy young adults and to assess the influence of retinal location (central vs. peripheral retina) and stimulus composition (broadband vs. mid-wave) on LTM. The system was based on a xenon light source and a fiber-optic cable that created a bright light stimulus that could be moved along a computer-controlled precision translation slide. The stimulus, exposed for one-second intervals at both a central (fovea) and a peripheral (33 deg) location, was moved at varying speeds to determine the slowest detectable speed. In all, 37 healthy young participants (M = 19.32 ± 1.97 years) were tested. We found substantial between-subject variability in LTM and an interaction between stimulus wavelength and retinal location. The measurement of LTM using this novel apparatus and methodology provides insights into the relationship between slow-moving, ecologically valid stimuli and perceptual detection at the slowest speeds.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/3/33visual psychophysicsslow motionindividual differencesoptical device
spellingShingle Jacob B. Harth
Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond
Cameron J. Wysocky
Spencer F. Smith
Billy R. Hammond
A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
Inventions
visual psychophysics
slow motion
individual differences
optical device
title A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
title_full A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
title_fullStr A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
title_short A Novel Characterization of the Lower Threshold of Motion
title_sort novel characterization of the lower threshold of motion
topic visual psychophysics
slow motion
individual differences
optical device
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/3/33
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