Large depth differences between target and flankers can increase crowding: Evidence from a multi-depth plane display.
Elife
; 122023 09 04.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37665324
While human eyesight is clearest at the point where the gaze is focused, peripheral vision makes objects to the side visible. This ability to detect movement and objects in a wider field of vision helps people to have a greater awareness of their surroundings. However, it is more difficult to identify an object using peripheral vision when it is surrounded by other items. This phenomenon is known as crowding and can affect many aspects of daily life, such as driving or spotting a friend in a crowd. In our three-dimensional world, peripheral objects are often at different distances. This variation in depth could influence the effect of crowding, yet little is known about its effect. While previous research has investigated the effect of small differences in depth on crowding, the studies did not replicate real-world conditions. To replicate depths that are likely to be encountered in the real world, Smithers et al. created a display using multiple screens positioned 0.4, 1.26 and 4 meters from the viewer. Images were displayed on the screens and researchers measured how well study participants could identify a target image when it was surrounded by similar, nearby images displayed closer or further away than the target. The experiments showed that most viewers are less able to recognize a target object when there are surrounding items and this effect is worsened when the items are separated from the object by large differences in depth. The findings show that instead of diminishing the effect of crowding as suggested by previous studies with small depth differences large depth differences that more closely recreate those encountered in the real world can amplify the effect of crowding. This greater understanding of how humans process objects in three-dimensional environments could help to better estimate the impact of crowding on people with eye and neurological disorders. In turn, the information could be used to design environments that are easier for such individuals to navigate.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Percepción Visual
/
Técnicas Histológicas
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Elife
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido