Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2002):

The locus of "memory displacement" is at least partially perceptual: effects of velocity, expectation, friction, memory averaging, and weight.

Full Abstract

When observers are asked to localize the final position of a moving target, the judged position is usually displaced from the actual position. It has been suggested that mental processes derived from a number of invariant and noninvariant principles produce the mislocalization in memory. In this study, the effects of velocity, expectation, friction, memory averaging, and weight were reconsidered, and evidence was accumulated that supports the alternative view that the distortions arise to a large degree at a perceptual level. Effects of velocity and expectation were present when observers still perceived a persisting image of the target. It is suggested that the active reorienting of the perceptual organs explains the distortions. Furthermore, distortions of the perceived center of a visible stimulus may explain effects that have previously been attributed to memory averaging and mental analogues of weight. Thus, the locus of memory displacement is at least partially perceptual.

Author information

Author/s: Kerzel, Dirk (D);

Affiliation: Unit for Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research, Munich, Germany. kerzel(-atsign-)mpipf-muenchen.mpg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Perception & psychophysics (Percept Psychophys), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 64 (issue 4) : pp 680-92

Dates: Created 2002/07/22; Completed 2003/02/10; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12132767, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acceleration Adult Discrimination Learning Distance Perception Humans Mental Recall Motion Perception

Motion Perception Optical Illusions Orientation Pattern Recognition, Visual Problem Solving Psychophysics Set (Psychology)

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