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Depth effect from a rotating line of constant length

Perception & Psychophysics volume 44, pages 493–499 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

When a straight line is slowly rotated in the frontoparallel plane, subjects report seeing a compelling depth effect. The line appears slanted into 3-D space, with its end parts located at different distances from the observer and describing a sort of circular trajectory with respect to the frontal plane. As a result of this depth effect, the line appears longer than when it is located on the frontal plane, and the perceived length depends on the amount of tilt perceived. An explanation of this effect is presented, based on the hypothesis that the visual system minimizes differences in linear velocities in the 2-D velocity field. The results of an experiment in which subjects were required to evaluate the length of the tilting line were in close agreement with the expected values computed on the basis of the model. The results are discussed in relation to current theories of visual perception of structure from motion.

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Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Universitá di Padova, Piazza Capitaniato 3, 35139, Padua, Italy

    Mario Zanforlin & Giorgio Vallortigara

Authors
  1. Mario Zanforlin
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  2. Giorgio Vallortigara
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Additional information

This research was supported by C.N.R. Grant 86.00596.04.

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Zanforlin, M., Vallortigara, G. Depth effect from a rotating line of constant length. Perception & Psychophysics 44, 493–499 (1988). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03210435

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03210435

Keywords

  • Extreme Point
  • Frontal Plane
  • Linear Velocity
  • Line Length
  • Minimization Process